When witness to be compelled to answer

When a question put to a witness concerns a matter relevant to the suit or proceeding, the provisions of section 132 apply. That decides whether the witness can be compelled to answer or may refuse and what protection or compulsion the court must follow. In short, relevance brings the question under section 132's procedure.

Priya is a witness in a neighbour dispute and is asked about a private message she received from the defendant that bears on the dispute. Because the question relates to a matter relevant to the proceeding, section 132's rules decide whether Priya must answer or can refuse and what protections she gets.