Order of examinations
AI Assist
Summary
First the party who calls a witness conducts examination-in-chief, then the adverse party may cross-examine, and then the calling party may re-examine. Examination-in-chief and cross-examination must relate to relevant facts, but cross-examination can go beyond what the witness said in chief. Re-examination is to explain matters raised in cross; if the Court allows new matter in re-examination, the adverse party may further cross on that new matter.
Example
Priya calls Ravi to testify about a dispute at her shop. Priya questions him first (examination-in-chief); the defendant then cross-examines and may ask about matters Ravi did not mention earlier. Priya re-examines Ravi to clarify points raised in cross-examination, and if the Court allows a new topic in re-examination, the defendant may further cross-examine on that new matter.
Bare Act
Enacted text(1) Witnesses shall be first examined-in-chief, then (if the adverse party so desires) cross-examined, then (if the party calling him so desires) re-examined.
(2) The examination-in-chief and cross-examination must relate to relevant facts, but the cross-examination need not be confined to the facts to which the witness testified on his examination-in-chief.
(3) The re-examination shall be directed to the explanation of matters referred to in cross-examination; and, if new matter is, by permission of the Court, introduced in re-examination, the adverse party may further cross-examine upon that matter.
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