Lawgist315Accused person to be competent witness
(1) Any person accused of an offence before a Criminal Court shall be a competent witness for the defence and may give evidence on oath in disproof of the charges made against him or any person charged together with him at the same trial:
Provided that--
(a) he shall not be called as a witness except on his own request in writing;
(b) his failure to give evidence shall not be made the subject of any comment by any of the parties or the Court or give rise to any presumption against himself or any person charged together with him that the same trial.
(2) Any person against whom proceedings are instituted in any Criminal Court under section 98, or section 107 or section 108, or section 109, or section 110, or under Chapter IX or under Part B, Part C or Part D of Chapter X, may offer himself as a witness in such proceedings:
Provided that in proceedings under section 108, section 109, or section 110, the failure of such person to give evidence shall not be made the subject of any comment by any of the parties or the Court or give rise to any presumption against him or any other person proceeded against together with him at the same inquiry.
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- 300 Person once convicted or acquitted not to be tried for same offence
- 301 Appearance by Public Prosecutors
- 302 Permission to conduct prosecution
- 303 Right of person against whom proceedings are instituted to be defended
- 304 Legal aid to accused at State expense in certain cases
- 305 Procedure when corporation or registered society is an accused
- 306 Tender of pardon to accomplice
- 307 Power to direct tender of pardon
- 308 Trial of person not complying with conditions of pardon
- 309 Power to postpone or adjourn proceedings
- 310 Local inspection
- 311 Power to summon material witness, or examine person present
- 311A Power of Magistrate to order person to give specimen signatures or handwriting
- 312 Expenses of complainants and witnesses
- 313 Power to examine the accused
- 314 Oral arguments and memorandum of arguments
- 315 Accused person to be competent witness
- 316 No influence to be used to induce disclosure
- 317 Provision for inquiries and trial being held in the absence of accused in certain cases
- 318 Procedure where accused does not understand proceedings
- 319 Power to proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence
- 320 Compounding of offences
- 321 Withdrawal from prosecution
- 322 Procedure in cases which Magistrate cannot dispose of
- 323 Procedure when, after commencement of inquiry or trial, Magistrate finds case should be committed
- 324 Trial of persons previously convicted of offences against coinage, stamp-law or property
- 325 Procedure when Magistrate cannot pass sentence sufficiently severe
- 326 Conviction or commitment on evidence partly recorded by one Magistrate and partly by another
- 327 Court to be open
