When facts not otherwise relevant become relevant
AI Assist
Summary
Facts that by themselves seem irrelevant become relevant if they contradict any fact in issue or relevant fact, or if alone or with other facts they make a fact in issue much more probable or much less probable. In practice, proof that someone was elsewhere when an act occurred, or that only one person could have done it, becomes admissible to support or rebut the case. Such facts can help establish innocence or guilt.
Example
Priya is accused of theft from a shop in Chennai on a particular day. Train tickets and CCTV show she was in Ladakh that whole day. That fact is relevant because it makes it highly improbable she committed the theft.
Bare Act
Enacted textFacts not otherwise relevant are relevant-
(1) if they are inconsistent with any fact in issue or relevant fact;
(2) if by themselves or in connection with other facts they make the existence or non-existence of any fact in issue or relevant fact highly probable or improbable.
Illustrations.
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(a) The question is, whether A committed a crime at Chennai on a certain day. The fact that, on that day, A was at Ladakh is relevant. The fact that, near the time when the crime was committed, A was at a distance from the place where it was committed, which would render it highly improbable, though not impossible, that he committed it, is relevant.
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(b) The question is, whether A committed a crime. The circumstances are such that the crime must have been committed either by A, B, C or D. Every fact which shows that the crime could have been committed by no one else, and that it was not committed by either B, C or D, is relevant.
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