Examination in chief - By Shivaranjani

1. M.Shivaranjani. 61
(81 batch)

2. EXAMINATION IN CHIEF
 First examination of the witness.
 Questions put to him by the lawyer for the side which
has summoned him.

3. STATE VERSUS A
 In criminal cases the act committed by an individual or a
group, the State becomes a party instead of the aggrieved
person and starts the criminal prosecution.
 The effect of the questions and answers is recorded
indirectly and not in the form of question & answers.

4. CROSS EXAMINATION
 Witness is questioned by
the lawyer of opposite party
(defence lawyer).

5. The main objects are:
 To elicit facts favourable to his case
 To test the accuracy of the statements made by the
witness
 To modify or explain what has been said
 To develop new or old facts
 To discredit the witness
 To remove any undue or excessive emphasis which may
have been given to any of them

6.  By doing this, the lawyer may try to weaken the evidence
by showing that the evidence given is inconsistent,
inaccurate, ill-founded, contradictory & untrustworthy.
 The cross-examination need not be confined to the facts
to which the witness testified in his chief examination.
 The witness may be asked question on the bias, his
previous conviction, his reputation for truthfulness may
have which would affect the reliability of his evidence.

7. Objection to testimony:
when a question is asked to the
witness, the opposing lawyer may say “I object” & give
his reason for the same. The witness should not answer
the question until the Court gives a ruling on the
objection. If the Judge says “Objection overruled”,
the answer has to be given