A witness, who after taking oath, willfully makes a statement which he knows or believes to be false is guilty of offence under section: AIIMS 11; NEET 13, 15
**Question:** A witness, who after taking oath, willfully makes a statement which he knows or believes to be false is guilty of offence under section: AIIMS 11; NEET 13, 15
**Correct Answer:** C. Section 11
**Core Concept:** Perjury is the act of lying under oath, typically in a court of law. In this context, a witness who knowingly provides false information after taking an oath is considered guilty of perjury. Perjury can have severe legal consequences, as it undermines the integrity of the judicial system.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:** Section 11 of the Indian Evidence Act deals with perjury, which is a criminal offence. According to this section, a person who makes a false statement with the intent to deceive or influence a court, tribunal, or other judicial proceedings, is guilty of perjury. In this scenario, witness intentionally providing false information under oath is an example of perjury, which falls under Section 11 of the Indian Evidence Act.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
A. Section 13: This section deals with perjury in relation to a court of law, but in this question, the offence is committed in relation to a witness providing false information in any judicial proceeding, not necessarily limited to a court of law.
B. Section 15: Section 15 deals with perjury in relation to a court of law, which is not the situation presented in this question.
D. Section 11: As mentioned earlier, Section 11 is the correct answer, but it is repeated to emphasize that the offence of providing false information under oath is not limited to Section 11 only.
**Why These Options are Incorrect:**
AIIMS 13 and NEET 15 options are incorrect because they pertain to specific sections related to perjury in a court of law, which is not the situation presented in the question. The question discusses perjury in relation to any judicial proceeding, not limited to a court of law.
**Why Section 11 is Right:**
Section 11 of the Indian Evidence Act addresses perjury committed in any judicial proceeding, not just in a court of law. This option is the correct answer as it encompasses the situation described in the question, where a witness provides false information under oath in any judicial proceeding.
**Clinical Pearl:** When faced with a situation where a witness provides false information under oath, it is essential for the legal professionals involved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the offence and apply the relevant section from the Indian Evidence Act, which in this case is Section 11.