Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

Browse all 170 sections of the BSA.

All Sections

Section	Title / Offence
1	Short title
2	Interpretation-clause
3	Evidence may be given of facts in issue and relevant facts
4	Relevancy of facts forming part of same transaction
5	Facts which are the occasion, cause or effect of facts in issue
6	Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct
7	Facts necessary to explain or introduce relevant facts
8	Things said or done by conspirator in reference to common design
9	When facts not otherwise relevant become relevant
10	In suits for damages, facts tending to enable Court to determine amount are relevant
11	Facts relevant when right or custom is in question
12	Facts showing existence of state of mind, or of body, or bodily feeling
13	Facts bearing on question whether act was accidental or intentional
14	Existence of course of business when relevant
15	Admission defined
16	Admission by party to proceeding or his agent
17	Admissions by persons whose position must be proved as against party to suit
18	Admissions by persons expressly referred to by party to suit
19	Proof of admissions against persons making them, and by or on their behalf
20	When oral admission as to contents of electronic records are relevant
21	Admissions in civil cases when relevant
22	Confession caused by inducement, threat or promise, when irrelevant in criminal proceeding
23	Confession to police-officer not to be proved
24	Consideration of proved confession affecting person making it and others jointly under trial for same offence
25	Admissions not conclusive proof, but may estop
26	Cases in which statement of relevant fact by person who is dead or cannot be found, etc., is relevant
27	Relevancy of certain evidence for proving, in subsequent proceeding, the truth of facts therein stated
28	Entries in books of account when relevant
29	Relevancy of entry in public record made in performance of duty
30	Relevancy of statements in maps, charts and plans
31	Relevancy of statement as to fact of public nature contained in certain Acts or notifications
32	Relevancy of statements as to any law contained in law-books
33	What evidence to be given when statement forms part of a conversation, document, electronic record, book or series of letters or papers
34	Previous judgments relevant to bar a second suit or trial
35	Relevancy of certain judgments in probate, etc., jurisdiction
36	Relevancy and effect of judgments, orders or decrees, other than those mentioned in section 41
37	Judgments, etc., other than those mentioned in sections 40, 41 and 42, when relevant
38	Fraud or collusion in obtaining judgment, or incompetency of Court, may be proved
39	Opinions of experts
40	Facts bearing upon opinions of experts
41	Opinion as to digital signature, when relevant
42	Opinion as to existence of right or custom, when relevant
43	Opinion as to usages, tenets, etc., when relevant
44	Opinion on relationship, when relevant
45	Grounds of opinion, when relevant
46	In civil cases character to prove conduct imputed, irrelevant
47	In criminal cases previous good character relevant
48	Evidence of character or previous sexual experience not relevant in certain cases
49	Previous bad character not relevant, except in reply
50	Character as affecting damages
51	Fact judicially noticeable need not be proved
52	Facts of which Court must take judicial notice
53	Facts admitted need not be proved
54	Proof of facts by oral evidence
55	Oral evidence must be direct
56	Proof of contents of documents
57	Primary evidence
58	Secondary evidence
59	Proof of documents by primary evidence
60	Cases in which secondary evidence relating to documents may be given
61	Electronic or digital record
62	Special provisions as to evidence relating to electronic record
63	Admissibility of electronic records
64	Rules as to notice to produce
65	Proof of signature and handwriting of person alleged to have signed or written document produced
66	Proof as to electronic signature
67	Proof of execution of document required by law to be attested
68	Proof where no attesting witness found
69	Admission of execution by party to attested document
70	Proof when attesting witness denies the execution
71	Proof of document not required by law to be attested
72	Comparison of signature, writing or seal with others admitted or proved
73	Proof as to verification of digital signature
74	Public documents
75	Certified copies of public documents
76	Proof of documents by production of certified copies
77	Proof of other official documents
78	Presumption as to genuineness of certified copies
79	Presumption as to documents produced as record of evidence
80	Presumption as to Gazettes, newspapers, private Acts of Parliament and other documents
81	Presumption as to Gazettes in electronic forms
82	Presumption as to maps or plans made by authority of Government
83	Presumption as to collections of laws and reports of decisions
84	Presumption as to powers-of-attorney
85	Presumption as to electronic agreements
86	Presumption as to electronic records and electronic signatures
87	Presumption as to Electronic Signature Certificates
88	Presumption as to certified copies of foreign judicial records
89	Presumption as to books, maps and charts
90	Presumption as to electronic messages
91	Presumption as to due execution, etc., of documents not produced
92	Presumption as to documents thirty years old
93	Presumption as to electronic records five years old
94	Evidence of terms of contracts, grants and other dispositions of property reduced to form of document
95	Exclusion of evidence of oral agreement
96	Exclusion of evidence to explain or amend ambiguous document
97	Exclusion of evidence against application of document to existing facts
98	Evidence as to document unmeaning in reference to existing facts
99	Evidence as to application of language which can apply to one only of several persons
100	Evidence as to application of language to one of two sets of facts, to neither of which the whole correctly applies
101	Evidence as to meaning of illegible characters, etc
102	Who may give evidence of agreement varying terms of document
103	Saving of provisions of Indian Succession Act relating to wills
104	Burden of proof
105	On whom burden of proof lies
106	Burden of proof as to particular fact
107	Burden of proving fact to be proved to make evidence admissible
108	Burden of proving that case of accused comes within exceptions
109	Burden of proving fact especially within knowledge
110	Burden of proving death of person known to have been alive within thirty years
111	Burden of proving that person is alive who has not been heard of for seven years
112	Burden of proof as to relationship in the cases of partners, landlord and tenant, principal and agent
113	Burden of proof as to ownership
114	Proof of good faith in transactions where one party is in relation of active confidence
115	Presumption as to certain offences
116	Birth during marriage, conclusive proof of legitimacy
117	Presumption as to abetment of suicide by a married woman
118	Presumption as to dowry death
119	Court may presume existence of certain facts
120	Presumption as to absence of consent in certain prosecution for rape
121	Estoppel
122	Estoppel of tenants and of licensee of person in possession
123	Estoppel of acceptor of bill of exchange, bailee or licensee
124	Who may testify
125	Witness unable to communicate verbally
126	Parties to civil suit, and their wives or husbands. Husband or wife of person under criminal trial
127	Judges and Magistrates
128	Communications during marriage
129	Evidence as to affairs of State
130	Official communications
131	Information as to commission of offences
132	Section 126 to apply to interpreters, etc
133	Privilege not waived by volunteering evidence
134	Confidential communications with legal advisers
135	Production of title-deeds of witness not a party
136	Production of documents or electronic records which another person, having possession, could refuse to produce
137	Witness not excused from answering on ground that answer will criminate
138	Accomplice
139	Number of witnesses
140	Order of production and examination of witnesses
141	Judge to decide as to admissibility of evidence
142	Examination-in-chief
143	Order of examinations
144	Cross-examination of person called to produce a document
145	Witnesses to character
146	Leading questions
147	Evidence as to matters in writing
148	Cross-examination as to previous statements in writing
149	Questions lawful in cross-examination
150	When witness to be compelled to answer
151	Court to decide when question shall be asked and when witness compelled to answer
152	Question not to be asked without reasonable grounds
153	Procedure of Court in case of question being asked without reasonable grounds
154	Indecent and scandalous questions
155	Questions intended to insult or annoy
156	Exclusion of evidence to contradict answers to questions testing veracity
157	Question by party to his own witness
158	Impeaching credit of witness
159	Questions tending to corroborate evidence of relevant fact, admissible
160	Former statements of witness may be proved to corroborate later testimony as to same fact
161	What matters may be proved in connection with proved statement relevant under section 32 or 33
162	Refreshing memory
163	Testimony to facts stated in document mentioned in section 159
164	Right of adverse party as to writing used to refresh memory
165	Production of documents
166	Giving, as evidence, of document called for and produced on notice
167	Using, as evidence, of document production of which was refused on notice
168	Judge’s power to put questions or order production
169	No new trial for improper admission or rejection of evidence
170	Repeal and savings

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