Equivalent Citation: AIR1952SC54, 1952CriLJ547, (1952)IMLJ440(SC), [1952]1SCR377

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Decided On: 20.12.1951
Appellants: Rameshwar
Vs.
Respondent: The State of Rajasthan
Hon'!e "#$%es&
Syed M.Fazal Ali and Vivian Bose !!.
A'ts(R#!es(Or$ers&
"ndian #vidence Act $ Sections % 11& 11% 1'' and 15(
Case Note&
)*+ Cr*m*na! , om*ss*on to ta-e oath . Se't*on //0 of In$*an E1*$en'e A't ,
a''#se$ 'on1*'te$ of ra2*n% %*r! of se1en 3ears of a%e , oath not a$m*n*stere$ to
%*r! as she $*$ not #n$erstan$ nat#re of oath , as 2er Se't*on //0 om*ss*on to
ta-e oath $oes not affe't a$m*ss**!*t3 of e1*$en'e , s#'h om*ss*on on!3 affe'ts
're$**!*t3 of w*tness.
)**+ Corroorat*on of e1*$en'e , Se't*ons 04 //54 /66 an$ /78 of In$*an E1*$en'e
A't , whether test*mon3 of 'om2!a*nant *n ra2e 'ases re9#*res 'orroorat*on
re9#*re$ , ra2e$ woman *s not a''om2!*'e , *n s#'h 'ases r#!e re%ar$*n%
a$1*sa*!*t3 of 'orroorat*on sho#!$ e 2resent to m*n$ of j#$%e , he ma3
$*s2ense w*th 'orroorat*on *n 2art*'#!ar '*r'#mstan'es of 'ase *f *t *s safe to $o
so , 'orroorat*on not essent*a! for 'on1*'t*on *n e1er3 'ase , as matter of
2r#$en'e r#!e of 'orroorat*on o#%ht to e -e2t *n m*n$ , *n 'ases where
'orroorat*on *s re9#*re$ *t *s not ne'essar3 that there o#%ht to e *n$e2en$ent
'onf*rmat*on of e1er3 mater*a! '*r'#mstan'es , a!! that *s re9#*re$ *s that there
sho#!$ e some a$$*t*ona! e1*$en'e ren$er*n% 'om2!a*nant's e1*$en'e 2roa!e ,
'orroorat*on m#st 'ome from *n$e2en$ent so#r'e , *n$e2en$ent e1*$en'e m#st
reasona!3 'onne't a''#se$ w*th 'r*me there3 'onf*rm*n% 'om2!a*nant's
test*mon3 . 'orroorat*on nee$ not e $*re't e1*$en'e that a''#se$ 'omm*tte$
'r*me , '*r'#mstant*a! e1*$en'e of a''#se$'s 'onne't*on w*th 'r*me wo#!$ e
s#ff*'*ent 'orroorat*on.
"UD:MENT
;ose4 ".
1. )*e appellant Ra+es*,a- ,as c*a-.ed ,it* co++ittin. -ape on a yo/n. .i-l Mst.
0/-ni ei.*t yea-s o1 a.e. 2e ,as co++itted to Sessions and ,as convicted 3y t*e
Assistant Sessions !/d.e. Sa,ai !aip/- and sentenced to one yea-4s -i.o-o/s
i+p-ison+ent and a 1ine o1 Rs. 250.
2. An appeal +ade to t*e Sessions !/d.e at !aip/- t*at 3ein. t*e app-op-iate appellate
t-i3/nal in t*at a-ea. )*e lea-ned Sessions !/d.e *eld t*at t*e evidence ,as s/11icient
1o- +o-al conviction 3/t 1ell s*o-t o1 le.al p-oo1 3eca/se in *is opinion t*e la, -e5/i-es
co--o3o-ation o1 t*e sto-y o1 t*e p-osec/tion in s/c* cases as a +atte- o1 p-eca/tion and
t*e co--o3o-ative evidence in so 1at as it so/.*t to connect t*e appellant ,it* t*e c-i+e
,as le.ally ins/11icient t*o/.* +o-ally eno/.*. 2e ,as satis1ied *o,eve- t*at t*e .i-l
*as 3een -aped 3y so+e3ody. Acco-din.ly *e ac5/itted t*e acc/sed .ivin. *i+ t*e
3ene1it o1 t*e do/3t.
'. )*e State o1 Sa,ai !aip/- and 6an.ap/- appealed a.ainst t*e ac5/ittal to t*e 2i.*
7o/-t at !aip/-.
&. )*e lea-ned 2i.* 7o/-t !/d.es *eld t*at t*e la, -e5/i-es co--o3o-ation in s/c* cases
3/t *eld t*at t*e .i-l4s state+ent +ade to *e- +ot*e- ,as le.ally ad+issi3le an
co--o3o-ation and conside-in. t*at s/11icient t*ey set aside t*e ac5/ittal and -esto-ed
t*e conviction and sentence.
5. )*e 2i.* 7o/-t late- .-anted leave to appeal /nde- a-ticle 1'18198c9 o1 t*e
7onstit/tion as t*e case involved 5/estion o1 la, o1 .ene-al i+po-tance.
:. )*e 1i-st point ta;en 3e1o-e /s -elated to t*e ad+issi3ility o1 t*e evidence o1 t*e .i-l
*e-sel1. 2e- a.e ,as stated to 3e seven o- ei.*t yea-s at t*e ti+e o1 t*e e<a+ination 3y
t*e lea-ned. Assistant Sessions !/d.e ,*o -eco-ded *e- testi+ony. 2e ce-ti1ied t*at
s*e did not /nde-stand t*e sanctity o1 an oat* and acco-din.ly did not ad+iniste- one to
*e-. 2e did not ce-ti1y t*at t*e c*ild /nde-stood t*e d/ty o1 spea;in. t*e t-/t*.
(. )*e p-oviso to section 5 o1 t*e "ndian Oat*s Act 1%(' p-esc-i3es t*at$=0-ovided t*at
,*e-e t*e ,itness is a c*ild /nde- t,elve yea-s o1 a.e and t*e 7o/-t o- pe-son *avin.
a/t*o-ity to e<a+ine s/c* ,itness o1 opinion t*at t*o/.* in /nde-stand t*e d/ty o1
spea;in. t*e t-/t* *e does not /nde-stand t*e nat/-e o1 an oat* o- a11i-+ation t*e
1o-e.oin. p-ovisions o1 t*is section and t*e p-ovisions o1 section : s*all not apply to
s/c* ,itness 3/t in any s/c* case t*e a3sence o1 an oat* o- a11i-+ation s*all not
-ende- inad+issi3le any evidence .iven 3y s/c* ,itness not a11ect t*e o3li.ation o1 t*e
,itness to state t*e t-/t*.=
%. )*e 5/estion is ,*et*e- t*e opinion -e1e--ed to +/st 3e 1o-+ally -eco-ded o- ,*et*e-
it can 3e in1e--ed 1-o+ t*e ci-c/+stances in ,*ic* t*e deposition ,as ta;en.
9. )*e p-oviso 5/oted a3ove +/st 3e -ead alon. ,it* section 11% o1 t*e #vidence Act
and section 1' o1 t*e Oat*s Act. "n +y opinion an o+ission to ad+iniste- an oat* even
to an ad/lt .oes only to t*e c-edi3ility o1 t*e ,itness and not *is co+petency. )*e
5/estion o1 co+petency is dealt ,it* in section 11%. #ve-y ,itness is co+petent /nless
t*e 7o/-t conside-s *e is p-evented 1-o+ /nde-standin. t*e 5/estions p/t to *i+ o-
1-o+ .ivin. -ational ans,e-s 3y -easons o1 tende- yea-s e<t-e+e old a.e disease
,*et*e- o1 3ody o- +ind o- any ot*e- ca/se o1 t*e sa+e ;ind. "t ,ill 3e o3se-ved t*at
t*e-e is al,ays co+petency in 1act /nless t*e co/-t conside-s ot*e-,ise. >o ot*e-
.-o/nd o1 inco+petency is .iven t*e-e1o-e /nless t*e Oat* as Act adds additional
.-o/nds o1 inco+petency it is evident t*at section 11% +/st p-evail.
10. >o, t*e Oat*s Act does not deal ,it* co+petency. "ts +ain o3?ect is to -ende-
pe-sons ,*o .ive 1alse evidence lia3le to p-osec/tion. "t is t-/e a s/3sidia-y o3?ect is to
3-in. *o+e to t*e ,itness t*e sole+nity o1 t*e occasion and to i+p-ess /pon *i+ t*e
d/ty o1 spea;in. t*e t-/t* 3/t in vie, o1 section 11% t*ese +atte-s only to/c* c-edi3ility
and not ad+issi3ility. "n any opinion section 1' o1 t*e Oat*s Act places t*is 3eyond
do/3t. "t states$
=>o o+ission to ta;e any oat* o- +a;e any a11i-+ation........ and no i--e./la-ity
,*ateve- in t*e 1o-+ in ,*ic* any one o1 t*e+ is ad+iniste-ed s*all invalidate any
p-oceedin. o- -ende- inad+issi3le any evidence ,*ateve-.........=
11. Section 5 is t*e +ain p-ovision -e.a-din. t*e ad+inist-ation o1 oat*s. )*e p-oviso
only sets o/t t*e cases in ,*ic* t*e oat* is not to 3e ad+iniste-ed. "1 t*e-e1o-e an
o+ission to ta;e t*e oat* does not a11ect t*e ad+issi3ility o1 t*e evidence it 1ollo,s t*at
an i--e./la-ity o1 t*e ;ind ,e a-e conside-in. ,*ic* a-ises o/t o1 t*e p-oviso cannot
a11ect t*e ad+issi3ility eit*e- Section 11% -e+ains and /nless t*e ?/d.e conside-s
ot*e-,ise t*e ,itness is co+petent.
12. " do not t*in; it ,ill 3e /se1/l to conside- #n.lis* a/t*o-ities on t*e point 3eca/se ,e
a-e .ove-ned *e-e 3y t*e te-+s o1 t*e va-io/s section " *ave -e1e--ed to. B/t a decision
o1 t*e !/dicial 7o++ittee o1 t*e 0-ivy 7o/ncil is in point. )*ei- @o-ds*ips stated in
Mo*a+ed S/.al #sa v. )*e Ain. A.".R. 19&: 0.7. ':$
=Section 1' Oat*s Act is 5/ite /n5/ali1ied in its te-+s and t*e-e is not*in. to s/..est
t*at it is to apply only ,*e-e t*e o+ission to ad+iniste- t*e oat* occ/-s *e- inc/-ia+. "1
t*at *ad 3een t*e intention o1 t*e @e.islat/-e it ,o/ld *ave 3een si+ple to inse-t ,o-ds
in t*e section to t*at e11ect....... "1 +ay 3e o3se-ved t*at t*is 5/estion can no lon.e-
a-ise in "ndia 3eca/se in 19'9 t*e @e.islat/-e passed t*e Oat*s 8A+end+ent9 Act 8Act
BBB"B o1 19'99 ,*ic* settles t*e la, in acco-dance ,it* t*e Ben.al and O/d*
decisions -e1e--ed to a3ove.=
1'. )*e decisions to ,*ic* t*ei- @o-ds*ips -e1e- a-e R. v. Se,a B*o.ta 1& Ben.. @.R.
29& F.>. and Ra+ Sa+/?* v. #+pe-o- 8190(9 10 O.7. ''(. )*e decisions t*e-e ,e-e
t*at t*e section 3ein. /n5/ali1ied in te-+s did apply to a case ,*e-e t*e 7o/-t accepted
t*e evidence o1 a c*ild to ,*o+ t*e oat* ,as not ad+iniste-ed on t*e .-o/nd t*at t*e
,itness did not /nde-stand its nat/-e. )*e p-inciple o1 t*e decisions applies *e-e
3eca/se as t*ei- @o-ds*ip o3se-ve t*e section is /n5/ali1ied in its te-+s.
1&. " ,o/ld add *o,eve- t*at it is desi-a3le t*at ?/d.es and +a.ist-ates s*o/ld al,ays
-eco-d t*ei- opinion t*at t*e c*ild /nde-stands t*e d/ty o1 spea;in. t*e t-/t* and state
,*y t*ey t*in; t*at ot*e-,ise t*e c-edi3ility o1 ,itness +ay 3e se-io/sly a11ected so
+/c* so t*at in so+e cases it +ay 3e necessa-y to -e?ect t*e evidence alto.et*e-. B/t
,*et*e- t*e +a.ist-ate o- ?/d.e -eally ,as o1 t*at opinion can " t*in; 3e .at*e-ed 1-o+
t*e ci-c/+stances ,*en t*e-e is no 1o-+al ce-ti1icate. "n t*e p-esent case it is plain t*at
t*e lea-ned !/d.e *ad t*e p-ovision in +ind 3eca/se *e ce-ti1ied t*at t*e ,itness does
not /nde-stand t*e nat/-e o1 an oat* and so did not ad+iniste- one 3/t despite t*at
,ent on to ta;e *e- evidence. "t is also an i+po-tant 1act t*at t*e acc/sed ,*o ,as
-ep-esented *e co/nsel did not o3?ect. 2ad *e -aised t*e point t*e !/d.e ,o/ld
do/3tless *ave +ade .ood t*e o+ission. " a+ o1 opinion t*at Mst 0/-ni ,as a
co+petent ,itness and t*at *e- evidence is ad+issi3le. "n t*e 0-ivy 7o/ncil case ,*ic*
" *ave ?/st cited t*ei- @o-ds*ips said$
="t is not to 3e s/pposed t*at any ?/d.e ,o/ld accept as a ,itness a pe-son ,*o *e
conside-ed ,as incapa3le not only o1 /nde-standin. t*e nat/-e o1 an oat* 3/t also t*e
necessity o1 spea;in. t*e t-/t* ,*en e<a+ined as a ,itness.=
15. )*at is t*e ve-y point *e-e. One can p-es/+e t*at t*e lea-ned !/d.e *ad t*at in
+ind 1-o+ t*e 1act t*at *e e<a+ined t*e c*ild a1te- -e1e--in. to a 1act ,*ic* a-ises o/t o1
t*e p-oviso.
1:. As -e.a-ds *e- c-edi3ility t*e lea-ned t-ial !/d.e ,*o -eco-ded *e- evidence and
sa, *e- in t*e 3o< *as 3elieved *e- so *as t*e 2i.* 7o/-tC and it is i+po-tant to +o-e
t*at t*e lea-ned Sessions !/d.e ,*o ac5/itted t*e acc/sed *as not dis3elieved *e-. On
t*e cont-a-y *e says *e is +o-ally convinced. All *e says is t*at in t*e a3sence o1
co--o3o-ation it ,ill 3e /nsa1e to convict 3eca/se t*e 0-ivy 7o/ncil and ot*e- cases
advise co--o3o-ation as a +atte- o1 p-/dence.
1(. De ,e-e ta;en ca-e1/lly t*-o/.* t*e evidence as ela3o-ately as in a co/-t o1 1i-st
appeal. " a+ o1 opinion t*at t*e lea-ned 2i.* 7o/-t !/d.es ,e-e 1/lly ?/sti1ied in
acceptin. t*e evidence o1 0/-ni and in 3elievin. *e- +ot*e- Mst. 6*isi. " conside- it
/nnecessa-y to -ecapit/late t*ei- -easons. A1te- t*e ca-e1/l analysis .iven 3y t*-ee
7o/-ts it is s/11icient to say t*at " a.-ee ,it* t*e lea-ned 2i.* 7o/-t !/d.es. De a-e le1t
t*e-e1o-e ,it* t*e 5/estion o1 la,.
1%. )*e 1i-st 5/estion is ,*et*e- t*e la, -e5/i-es co--o3o-ation in t*ese cases. >ot t*e
#vidence Act no,*e-e says so. On t*e ot*e- *and ,*en dealin. ,it* t*e testi+ony o1
an acco+plice t*o/.* it says in section 11& 839 t*at t*e 7o/-t +ay p-es/+e t*at an
acco+plice is /n,o-t*y o1 c-edit /nless *e is co--o3o-ated in +ate-ial pa-tic/la- it
+a;es it clea- in section 1'' t*at $
=An acco+plice s*all 3e a co+petent ,itness a.ainst an acc/sed pe-son and a
conviction is not ille.al +e-ely 3eca/se it p-oceeds /pon t*e /nco--o3o-ated testi+ony
o1 an acco+plice.=
19. >o, a ,o+an ,*o *as 3een -aped is not an acco+plice. "1 s*e ,as -avis*ed s*e is
t*e victi+ o1 an o/t-a.e. "1 s*e consented t*e-e is no o11ence /nless s*e is a +a--ied
,o+an in ,*ic* case 5/estions o1 ad/lte-y +ay a-ise. B/t ad/lte-y p-es/pposes
consent and so is not on t*e sa+e 1ootin. as -ape. "n t*e case o1 a .i-l ,*o is 3elo, t*e
a.e o1 consent *e- consent ,ill not +atte- so 1a- as t*e o11ence o1 -ape is conce-ned
3/t i1 s*e consented *e- testi+ony ,ill nat/-ally 3e as s/spect as t*at o1 an acco+plice.
So also in t*e case o1 /nnat/-al o11ences. B/t in all t*ese cases a la-.e vol/+e o1 case
la, *as .-o,n /p ,*ic* t-eats t*e evidence o1 t*e co+plainant so+e,*at alon. t*e
sa+e lines as acco+plice evidence t*o/.* o1ten 1o- ,idely di11e-in. -easons and t*e
position no, -eac*ed is t*at t*e -/le a3o/t co--o3o-ation *as *a-dened into one o1 la,.
B/t it is i+po-tant to /nde-stand e<actly ,*at t*e -/le is and ,*at t*e e<p-ession
=*a-dened into a -/le o1 la,= +eans.
20. "n +y ?/d.+ent t*is 3-anc* o1 t*e la, is t*e sa+e as in #n.land and " a+ o1
opinion t*at t*e l/cid e<position o1 it .iven 3y @o-d Readin. t*e @o-d 7*ie1 !/stice o1
#n.land in )*e Aind v. Bas;e-ville E191:F 2 A.B. :5% cannot 3e 3ette-ed.
21. "n t*at case Bas;e-ville *ad 3een convicted o1 *avin. co++itted acts o1 .-oss
indecency ,it* t*e t,o 3oys. 8)*e-e t*e 3oys ,e-e acco+plices 3eca/se t*ey ,e-e
1-eely consentin. pa-ties and t*e-e ,as not /se o1 1o-ce9. )*e lea-ned 7*ie1 !/stice
says at pa.e :0' :$
=)*e-e is no do/3t t*at t*e /nco--o3o-ated evidence o1 an acco+plice is ad+issi3le in
la,...... B/t it *as lon. 3een a -/le o1 p-actice at co++on la, 1o- t*e ?/d.e to ,a-n t*e
?/-y o1 t*e dan.e- o1 convictin. a p-isone- on t*e /nco--o3o-ated testi+ony o1 an
acco+plice o- acco+plices and in t*e disc-etion o1 t*e ?/d.e to advise t*e+ not to
convict /pon s/c* evidence 3/t t*e ?/d.e s*o/ld point o/t to t*e ?/-y t*at it is ,it*in
t*ei- le.al p-ovince to convict /pon s/c* /ncon1i-+ed evidence......
)*is -/le o1 p-actice *as 3eco+e vi-t/ally e5/ivalent to a -/le o1 la, and since t*e 7o/-t
o1 7-i+inal Appeal co+e into ope-ation t*is 7o/-t *as *eld t*at in t*e a3sence o1 s/c*
a ,a-nin. 3y t*e ?/d.e t*e conviction +/st 3e 5/as*ed.... "1 a1te- t*e p-ope- ca/tion 3y
t*e ?/d.e t*e ?/-y neve-t*eless convict t*e p-isone- t*is 7o/-t ,ill not 5/as* t*e
conviction +e-ely /pon t*e .-o/nd t*at t*e acco+plices testi+ony ,as /nco--o3o-ated.=
22. )*at in any opinion is e<actly t*e la, in "ndia so 1a- as acco+plices a-e
conce-ned and it is ce-tainly not any *i.*e- in t*e case o1 se</al o11ences. )*e only
cla-i1ication necessa-y 1o- p/-poses o1 t*is co/nt-y is ,*e-e t*is class o1 o11ence is
so+eti+es t-ied 3y a ?/d.e ,it*o/t t*e aid o1 a ?/-y. "n t*ese cases it is necessa-y t*at
t*e ?/d.e s*o/ld .ive so+e indication in *is ?/d.+ent t*at *e *as *ad t*is -/le o1
ca/tion in +ind and s*o/ld p-oceed to .ive -easons 1o- conside-in. it /nnecessa-y to
-e5/i-e co--o3o-ation on t*e 1acts o1 t*e pa-tic/la- case 3e1o-e *i+ and s*o, ,*y *e
conside-s i1 sa1e to convict ,it*o/t co--o3o-ation in t*at pa-tic/la- case. " a+ o1 opinion
t*at t*e lea-ned 2i.* 7o/-t !/d.es ,e-e ,-on. in t*in;in. t*at t*ey co/ld not as a
+atte- o1 la, convict ,it*o/t co--o3o-ation.
2'. )*e-e is a class o1 cases ,*ic* conside-s t*at t*o/.* co--o3o-ation s*o/ld
o-dina-ily 3e -e5/i-ed in t*e case o1 a .-o,n$/p ,o+an it is /nnecessa-y in t*e case o1
a c*ild o1 tende- yea-s. Bis*-a+ v. #+pe-o- A.".R. 19&& >a.. ':' is typical o1 t*at point
o1 vie,. On t*e ot*e- *and t*e 0-ivy 7o/ncil *as said in Mo*a+ed S/.al #sa v. )*e
Ain. A.".R. 19&: 0.7. t*at as a +atte- o1 p-/dence a conviction s*o/ld not o-dina-ily 3e
3ased on t*e /nco--o3o-ated evidence o1 a c*ild ,itness. "n +y opinion t*e t-/e -/le is
t*at in eve-y case o1 t*is type t*at -/le a3o/t t*e advisa3ility o1 co--o3o-ation s*o/ld 3e
p-esent to t*e +ind o1 t*e ?/d.e. "n a ?/-y case *e +/st tell t*e ?/-y o1 it and in a non$
?/-y case *e +/st s*o, t*at it is p-esent to *is +ind 3y indicatin. t*at in t*e ?/d.+ent.
B/t *e s*o/ld also point o/t t*at co--o3o-ation can 3e dispensed ,it* it in t*e pa-tic/la-
ci-c/+stances o1 t*e case 3e1o-e *i+ eit*e- t*e ?/-y o- ,*en t*e-e is no ?/-y *e
*i+sel1 is satis1ied t*at it is sa1e to do so. )*e -/le ,*ic* acco-din. to t*e cases *as
*a-dened into one o1 la, is not t*at co--o3o-ation is essential 3e1o-e t*e-e can 3e a
conviction 3/t t*at t*e necessity o1 co--o3o-ation as a +atte- o1 p-/dence e<cept
,*e-e t*e ci-c/+stances +a;e it sa1e to dispense ,it* it +/st 3e p-esent to t*e +ind
o1 t*e ?/d.e and in ?/-y cases +ist 1ind place in t*e c*a-.e 3e1o-e a conviction ,it*o/t
co--o3o-ation can 3e s/stained. )*e tende- yea-s o1 t*e c*ild co/pled ,it* ot*e-
ci-c/+stances appea-in. in t*e case s/c* 1o- e<a+ple as its de+eano/- /nli;eli*ood
o1 t/to-in. and so 1o-t* +ay -ende- co--o3o-ation /nnecessa-y 3/t t*at is a 5/estion o1
1act in eve-y case. )*e only -/le o1 la, is t*at t*is -/le o1 p-/dence +/st 3e p-esent to
t*e +ind o1 t*e ?/d.e o- t*e ?/-y as t*e case +ay 3e and 3e /nde-stood and
app-eciated 3y *i+ o- t*e+. )*e-e is no -/le o1 p-actice t*at t*e-e +/st in eve-y case
3e co--o3o-ation 3e1o-e a conviction can 3e allo,ed to stand.
2&. " t/-n ne<t to t*e nat/-e and e<tent o1 t*e co--o3o-ation -e5/i-ed ,*en it is not
conside-ed sa1e to dispense ,it* it. 2e-e a.ain t*e -/les a-e l/cidly e<po/nded 3y
@o-d Readin. in Bas;e-ville4s case E191:F 2 A.B. :5% ::& to ::9. "t ,o/ld 3e i+possi3le
indeed it ,o/ld 3e dan.e-o/s to 1o-+/late t*e ;ind o1 evidence ,*ic* s*o/ld o- ,o/ld
3e -e.a-ded as co--o3o-ation. "ts nat/-e and e<tent +/st necessa-ily va-y ,it*
ci-c/+stances o1 eac* case and also acco-din. to t*e pa-tic/la- ci-c/+stances o1 t*e
o11ence c*a-.ed. B/t to t*is e<tent t*e -/les a-e clea-.
25. Fi-st it is not necessa-y t*at t*e-e s*o/ld 3e independent con1i-+ation o1 eve-y
+ate-ial ci-c/+stance in t*e sense t*at t*e independent evidence in t*e case apa-t
1-o+ t*e testi+ony o1 t*e co+plainant o- t*e acco+plice s*o/ld in itsel1 3e s/11icient to
s/stain conviction. As @o-d Readin. says $
="ndeed i1 it ,e-e -e5/i-ed t*at t*e acco+plice s*o/ld 3e con1i-+ed in eve-y detail o1
t*e c-i+e *is evidence ,o/ld not 3e essential to t*e case it ,o/ld 3e +e-ely
con1i-+ato-y o1 ot*e- and independent testi+ony.=
2:. Al t*at is -e5/i-ed t*at t*e-e +/st 3e =so+e additional evidence -ende-in. it
p-o3a3le t*at t*e sto-y o1 t*e acco+plice 8o- co+plainant9 is t-/e and t*at it is
-easona3ly sa1e to act /pon it.=
2(. Secondly t*e independent evidence +/st not only +a;e it sa1e to 3elieve t*at t*e
c-i+e ,as co++itted 3/t +/st in so+e ,ay -easona3ly connect o- tend to connect t*e
acc/sed ,it* it 3y con1i-+in. in so+e +ate-ial pa-tic/la- t*e testi+ony o1 t*e
acco+plice o- co+plainant t*at t*e acc/sed co++itted t*e c-i+e. )*is does not +ean
t*at t*e co--o3o-ation as to identity +/st e<tend to all t*e ci-c/+stances necessa-y to
identi1y t*e acc/sed ,it* t*e o11ence. A.ain all t*at is necessa-y is t*at t*e-e s*o/ld 3e
independent evidence ,*ic* ,ill +a;e it -easona3ly sa1e to 3elieve t*e ,itness4s sto-y
t*at t*e acc/sed ,as t*e one o- a+on. t*ose ,*o co++itted t*e o11ence. )*e -eason
1o- t*is pa-t o1 t*e -/les is t*at $
=a +an ,*o *as 3een ./ilty o1 a c-i+e *i+sel1 ,ill al,ays 3e a3le to -elate t*e 1acts o1
t*e case and i1 t*e con1i-+ation 3e only on t*e t-/t* o1 t*at *isto-y ,it*o/t identi1yin.
t*e pe-sons t*at is -eally no co--o3o-ation at all... "t ,o/ld not at all tend to s*o, t*at
t*e pa-ty acc/sed pa-ticipated in it.=
2%. )*i-dly t*e co--o3o-ation +/st co+e 1-o+ independent so/-ces and t*/s o-dina-ily
t*e testi+ony o1 one acco+plice ,o/ld not 3e s/11icient to co--o3o-ate t*at o1 anot*e-.
B/t o1 co/-se t*e ci-c/+stances +ay 3e s/c* as to +a;e it sa1e to dispense ,it* t*e
necessity o1 co--o3o-ation and in t*ose special ci-c/+stances a conviction so 3ased
,o/ld not 3e ille.al. " say t*is 3eca/se it ,as contended t*at t*e +ot*e- in t*is case
,as not an independent so/-ce.
29. Fo/-t*ly t*e co--o3o-ation need not 3e di-ect evidence t*at t*e acc/sed co++itted
t*e c-i+e. "t is s/11icient i1 it is +e-ely ci-c/+stantial evidence o1 *is connection ,it* t*e
c-i+e. De-e it ot*e-,ise =+any c-i+es ,*ic* a-e /s/ally co++itted 3et,een
acco+plices in sec-et s/c* as incest o11ences ,it* 1e+ales= 8o- /nnat/-al o11ences9
=co/ld neve- 3e 3-o/.*t to ?/stice.=
'0. >e<t " t/-n to anot*e- aspect o1 t*e case. )*e lea-ned 2i.* 7o/-t !/d.es *ave
/sed Mst. 0/-ni4s state+ent to *e- +ot*e- as co--o3o-ation o1 *e- state+ent. )*e
5/estion a-ises can t*e p-evio/s state+ent o1 an acco+plice o- a co+plainant 3e
accepted as co--o3o-ationG
'1. )*at t*e evidence is le.ally ad+issi3le as evidence o1 cond/ct is indisp/ta3le
3eca/se o1 "ll/st-ation 8?9 to section % o1 t*e #vidence Act ,*ic* is in t*ese te-+s :
=)*e 5/estion is ,*et*e- A ,as -avis*ed. )*e 1acts t*at s*o-tly a1te- t*e alle.ed -ape
s*e +ade a co+plaint -elatin. to t*e c-i+e t*e ci-c/+stances /nde- ,*ic* and t*e
te-+s in ,*ic* t*e co+plaint ,as +ade a-e -elevant.=
'2. B/t t*at is not t*e ,*ole p-o3le+ 1o- ,e a-e conce-ned *e-e not only ,it* its le.al
ad+issi3ility and -elevancy as to cond/ct 3/t as to its ad+issi3ility 1o- a pa-tic/la-
p/-pose na+ely co--o3o-ation. )*e ans,e- to t*at is to 3e 1o/nd in section 15( o1 t*e
#vidence Act ,*ic* lays do,n t*e la, 1o- "ndia.
''. Section 15( states t*at $
="n o-de- to co--o3o-ate t*e testi+ony o1 a ,itness any 1o-+e- state+ent +ade 3y s/c*
,itness -elatin. to t*e sa+e 1act at o- a3o/t t*e ti+e ,*en t*e 1act too; place o- 3e1o-e
any a/t*o-ity le.ally co+petent to investi.ate t*e 1act +ay 3e p-oved.=
'5. )*e section +a;es no e<ceptions t*e-e1o-e p-ovided t*e condition p-esc-i3ed t*at
is to say =at o- a3o/t t*e ti+e etc.= a-e 1/l1illed t*e-e can 3e no do/3t t*at s/c* a
state+ent is le.ally ad+issi3le in "ndia as co--o3o-ation. )*e ,ei.*t to 3e attac*ed to it
is o1 co/-se anot*e- +atte- and it +ay 3e t*at in so+e cases t*e evidentia-y val/e o1
t,o state+ents e+anatin. 1-o+ t*e sa+e tainted so/-ce +ay not 3e *i.* 3/t in vie, o1
section 11% its le.al ad+issi3ility as co--o3o-ation cannot 3e 5/estioned. )o state t*is
is *o,eve- no +o-e t*an to e+p*asise t*at t*e-e is no -/le o1 t*/+3 in t*ese cases.
D*en co--o3o-ative evidence is p-od/ced it also *as to 3e ,ei.*ed and in a .iven case
as ,it* ot*e- evidence even t*o/.* it is le.ally ad+issi3le 1o- t*e p/-pose on *and its
,ei.*t +ay 3e nil. On t*e ot*e- *and seein. t*at co--o3o-ation is not essential to a
conviction cond/ct o1 t*is ;ind +ay 3e +o-e t*an eno/.* in itsel1 to ?/sti1y acceptance
o1 t*e co+plainant4s sto-y. "t all depends on t*e 1acts o1 t*e case.
':. "n t*e p-esent case Mst. 0/-ni told *e- +ot*e- a3o/t t*e incident a3o/t 1o/- *o/-s
a1te- it occ/--ed. )*e -eason 1o- t*e delay ,as t*at t*e-e +ot*e- ,as not at *o+e ,*en
s*e ,ent t*e-e. S*e says t*at ,*en s*e ,ent *o+e s*e lay do,n and ,ent to sleep
and t*at ,*en *e- +ot*e- -et/-ned s*e as;ed *e- ,*y s*e ,as sleepin. and t*en s*e
told *e- +ot*e- ,*at *ad *appened. 2e- +ot*e- tells +/c* t*e sa+e sto-y. S*e says
s*e *ad .one o/t to *e- 1ield in t*e +o-nin. and did not -et/-n till a3o/t & p.+. D*en
s*e -eac* *o+e s*e 1o/nd *e- da/.*te- lyin. t*e-e ,eepin.. S*e *as 3een 3elieved 3y
t*e lea-ned t-ial !/d.es as also 3y t*e 2i.* 7o/-t and *as not 3een dis3elieved 3y t*e
lea-ned Sessions !/d.e. All *e says is t*at s*e is not an =independent= ,itness and is
t*e-e1o-e not s/11icient 1o- co--o3o-ation.
'(. )*e 1i-st 5/estion is ,*et*e- t*is delay 1/l1ills t*e =at o- a3o/t= condition. "n +y
opinion *e-e also t*e-e can 3e no *a-d and 1ast -/le. )*e +ain test is ,*et*e- t*e
state+ent ,as +ade as ea-ly as can -easona3ly 3e e<pected in t*e ci-c/+stances o1
t*e case and 3e1o-e t*e-e ,as oppo-t/nity 1o- t/to-in. o- concoction. "t ,as s/..ested
t*at t*e c*ild co/ld *ave co+plained to so+e ,o+en ,*o ,e-e ,o-;in. in t*e
nei.*3o/-*ood 3/t t*at ,o/ld not 3e nat/-al in a c*ild. S*e ,o/ld 3e 1-i.*tened and
*e- 1i-st instinct ,o/ld 3e to -/n *o+e to *e- +ot*e-. )*e 2i.* 7o/-t ,as satis1ied on
t*ese points and so a+ ". 7onse5/ently t*e +atte- does 1all ,it*in t*e a+3it o1 section
15( -ead ,it* Section % "ll/st-ation 8?9.
'%. )*e ne<t 5/estion is ,*et*e- t*e +ot*e- can 3e -e.a-ded as an =independent=
,itness. So 1a- as t*is case is conce-ned " *ave no do/3t on t*at sco-e. "t +ay 3e t*at
all +ot*e- +ay not 3e s/11iciently independent to 1/l1ill t*e -e5/i-e+ents o1 t*e
co--o3o-ation -/le 3/t t*e-e is no le.al 3a- to e<cl/de t*e+ 1-o+ its ope-ation +e-ely on
t*e .-o/nd o1 t*ei- -elations*ip. "ndependent +e-ely +eans independent o1 so/-ces
,*ic* a-e li;ely to 3e tainted. "n t*e a3sence o1 en+ity a.ainst t*e acc/sed t*e-e is no
-eason ,*ey s*e s*o/ld i+plicate *i+ 1alsely. "t is t-/e t*e acc/sed s/..ested t*at t*ey
,e-e on 3ad te-+s 3/t t*at *as not 3een 3elieved 3y anyone.
'9. )*e t*i-d 5/estion is ,*et*e- t*e-e is independent co--o3o-ation connection t*e
acc/sed ,it* t*e c-i+e. )*e only co--o3o-ation -elied on 1o- t*at is t*e p-evio/s
state+ent o1 t*e c*ild to *e- +ot*e-. )*at +i.*t not al,ays 3e eno/.* 3/t t*is -/le can
3e ,aived in a .iven case ?/st as +/c* as t*e necessity 1o- any co--o3o-ation at all. "n
t*e p-esent case t*e lea-ned 2i.* 7o/-t !/d.es ,o/ld *ave acted on t*e
/nco--o3o-ated testi+ony o1 t*e .i-l *ad t*ey not 1elt p-essed 3y t*e co--o3o-ation -/le.
Vie,in. all t*e ci-c/+stances " a+ satis1ied t*at t*e 2i.* 7o/-t ,as -i.*t. " a+ satis1ied
t*at in t*is case conside-in. t*e cond/ct o1 t*e .i-l and *e- +ot*e- 1-o+ sta-t to 1inis*
no co--o3o-ation 3eyond t*e state+ent o1 t*e c*ild to *e- +ot*e- ,as necessa-y. " a+
satis1ied t*at t*e 2i.* 7o/-t ,as -i.*t in *oldin. t*at t*at ,as eno/.* to +a;e it sa1e to
act on *e- testi+ony.
&0. " ,o/ld dis+iss t*e appeal and di-ect t*e appellant to s/--ende- to *is 3ail in
acco-dance ,it* t*e te-+s o1 *is 3ond se-ve o/t *is sentence and pay t*e 1ine.
Fa<! A!*4 ".
&1. " a.-ee Appeal dis+issed.