Facts bearing on question whether act was accidental or intentional
Chapter 2: Relevancy of facts
When there is a question whether an act was accidental or intentional, or done with a particular knowledge or intention, the fact that such act formed part of a series of similar occurrences, in each of which the person doing the act was concerned, is relevant.
Illustrations.
(a) A is accused of burning down his house in order to obtain money for which it is insured. The facts that A lived in several houses successively each of which he insured, in each of which a fire occurred, and after each of which fires A received payment from a different insurance company, are relevant, as tending to show that the fires were not accidental.
(b) A is employed to receive money from the debtors of B. It is A's duty to make entries in a book showing the amounts received by him. He makes an entry showing that on a particular occasion he received less than he really did receive. The question is, whether this false entry was accidental or intentional. The facts that other entries made by A in the same book are false, and that the false entry is in each case in favour of A, are relevant.
(c) A is accused of fraudulently delivering to B a counterfeit currency. The question is, whether the delivery of the currency was accidental. The facts that, soon before or soon after the delivery to B, A delivered counterfeit currency to C, D and E are relevant, as showing that the delivery to B was not accidental.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (Act No. 47 of 2023). As printed in the Gazette on 25 December 2023. Later amendments, if any, are not included.
Related sections
- 8Things said or done by conspirator in reference to common designEvidence Act 10
- 9When facts not otherwise relevant become relevantEvidence Act 11
- 10Facts tending to enable Court to determine amount are relevant in suits for damagesEvidence Act 12
- 11Facts relevant when right or custom is in questionEvidence Act 13
- 12Facts showing existence of state of mind, or of body or bodily feelingEvidence Act 14
- 14Existence of course of business when relevantEvidence Act 16