The Empress Vs. Kassim Khan

The Empress;The Empress vs Kassim Khan;mussamut Dahia and anr.

Type Court Judgment Court Kolkata Decided Apr 13, 1881

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Citation: sooperkanoon.com/859677
Court: Kolkata
Judge: Richard Garth, C.J., ;Pontifex, ;Morris, ;Mitter and ;McDonell, JJ.
Decided On: Apr 13, 1881
Subject: Criminal

Case Summary

AI-generated summary - not the official court judgment text.

Criminal Procedure Code (Act X of 1872), Sections 113, 119 - Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), Section 191. -

Key legal issue: Criminal

Parties & Advocates

Appellant / Petitioner

The Empress;The Empress

Respondent

Kassim Khan;mussamut Dahia and anr.

Legal References

Reported In: (1881)ILR7Cal121

Excerpt

criminal procedure code (act x of 1872), sections 113, 119 - penal code (act xlv of 1860), section 191. - garth, c.j.1. we think it plain that, neither the words 'shall answer all questions' in section 118 of the criminal procedure code, not the words 'shall be bound to answer all questions' in section 119, of the same code, constitute' an express provision of law to state the truth' within the meaning of section 191 of the penal code.2. sections 118 and 119 are in our opinion, merely intended to oblige persons to give such information as they can to the police in answer to questions which may be put to them, and they impose no legal obligation on those persons to speak the truth, unless we import the word 'truly' in each section after the word 'questions' which we clearly have no right to do.3. investigations in a police court are not, as a rule, conducted with the same care and accuracy as proceedings in a court of justice; and we think that it would be extremely dangerous to the liberty of the subject, if information thus loosely taken by a police officer could be made the subject of a prosecution for giving false evidence.4. it may be that, in some cases, the giving of false information may be made the subject of a different charge under other sections of the penal code; but this is a matter upon which we are not now called upon to give an opinion.

Full Judgment

Garth, C.J.

1. We think it plain that, neither the words 'shall answer all questions' in Section 118 of the Criminal Procedure Code, not the words 'shall be bound to answer all questions' in Section 119, of the same Code, constitute' an express provision of law to state the truth' within the meaning of Section 191 of the Penal Code.

2. Sections 118 and 119 are in our opinion, merely intended to oblige persons to give such information as they can to the Police in answer to questions which may be put to them, and they impose no legal obligation on those persons to speak the truth, unless we import the word 'truly' in each Section after the word 'questions' which we clearly have no right to do.

3. Investigations in a Police Court are not, as a rule, conducted with the same care and accuracy as proceedings in a Court of Justice; and we think that it would be extremely dangerous to the liberty of the subject, if information thus loosely taken by a Police officer could be made the subject of a prosecution for giving false evidence.

4. It may be that, in some cases, the giving of false information may be made the subject of a different charge under other Sections of the Penal Code; but this is a matter upon which we are not now called upon to give an opinion.

Same Parties The Empress;The Empress vs Kassim Khan;mussamut Dahia and anr. Same Subject Criminal Same Judge Richard Garth, C.J., ;Pontifex, ;Morris, ;Mitter and ;McDonel...

Criminal