'Hostile witness' under Section 154 IEA refers to a witness
AWho is below 18 years of age
BWho has personal enmity with the accused
CWhom the party calling him is permitted, with the court's leave, to cross-examine — typically because the witness has resiled from earlier statements or appears unwilling to tell the truth on behalf of the calling party
DWho refuses to take an oath
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Whom the party calling him is permitted, with the court's leave, to cross-examine — typically because the witness has resiled from earlier statements or appears unwilling to tell the truth on behalf of the calling party
Section 154 permits a party to put any questions to its own witness, including leading questions, when so permitted by the court. The test is whether the witness is 'not desirous of telling the truth' — formally called declaring 'hostile'. The witness's evidence is not automatically discarded; the court must look at corroborated parts.
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