Section 315 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 makes an accused person a competent witness for the defence: the accused may give evidence on oath to disprove the charges. Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 carries this rule forward.
The rule and its safeguards
Section 315(1) CrPC allows any person accused of an offence before a criminal court to testify for the defence, subject to important safeguards:
- Only on a written request. The accused cannot be called as a witness except on their own request in writing.
- Silence carries no adverse comment. The accused's failure to give evidence must not be made the subject of comment by any party or the court.
- No presumption. Failure to testify must not give rise to any presumption against the accused or any co-accused.
Once the accused enters the witness box, they testify on oath and can be cross-examined like any other witness.
Section 315(2): preventive proceedings
Section 315(2) CrPC allowed a person against whom preventive proceedings were instituted, such as security for keeping the peace or good behaviour, to offer themselves as a witness. BNSS 353(2) updates the cross-references to the corresponding BNSS provisions.
Section 315 versus Section 313
| Section 313 CrPC (BNSS 351) | Section 315 CrPC (BNSS 353) | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Court's examination of the accused to explain incriminating circumstances | Accused voluntarily testifies as a defence witness |
| Oath | Not on oath | On oath |
| Cross-examination | No | Yes |
| Trigger | Mandatory stage of trial | Written request by the accused |
धारा 315 CrPC क्या है?
धारा 315 CrPC (अब BNSS की धारा 353) के अनुसार आरोपी व्यक्ति अपने बचाव में गवाह बन सकता है और शपथ पर बयान दे सकता है, लेकिन केवल अपने लिखित अनुरोध पर। यदि आरोपी गवाही नहीं देता, तो न अदालत और न कोई पक्ष इस पर टिप्पणी कर सकता है, और न ही इससे उसके विरुद्ध कोई अनुमान लगाया जा सकता है। गवाही देने पर आरोपी से जिरह (cross-examination) की जा सकती है।
Deciding whether the accused should testify
Testifying can explain facts only the accused knows, but it exposes them to cross-examination on the whole case. Before advising, review the prosecution evidence, the Section 313 answers already recorded, and any inconsistencies a cross-examiner could use. Prepare a record-referenced note rather than a script.
Juniorlawyer can summarise the evidence and Section 313 answers into a working note. Read our guide to summarising a chargesheet for bail and trial preparation or browse the law guides library.
If the trial ends in conviction, read about release on probation or admonition under Section 360 CrPC and BNSS 401.