What Is BSA Section 131?

Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 - Section 131: Information as to commission of offences

• No Magistrate or police officer shall be compelled to say when he got any information as to the commission of any offence.
• No revenue officer shall be compelled to say when he got any information as to the commission of any offence against the public revenue.

Explanation

Revenue officer means any officer employed in or about the business of any branch of the public revenue.

Brefe Detail

Section 131 of the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, protects Magistrates, police officers, and revenue officers from being forced to disclose when they received information about offences. This provision ensures that officers can maintain confidentiality regarding the timing of information acquisition, which can be crucial for ongoing investigations and the protection of public revenue.

Question & Answers

What does Section 131 of the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 state?

It states that no Magistrate or police officer shall be compelled to disclose when they received information regarding the commission of any offence, nor shall a revenue officer be compelled to disclose when they received information about offences against public revenue.

Who is protected under this section?

Magistrates, police officers, and revenue officers are protected from being compelled to disclose the timing of information about offences.

What is the definition of a revenue officer according to this section?

A revenue officer is defined as any officer employed in or about the business of any branch of the public revenue.

Example

• A police officer receiving a tip about a robbery is not required to reveal when they received that information during a court proceeding.
• A revenue officer investigating tax evasion cannot be forced to disclose when they first learned about the potential offence.

Summary

Section 131 of the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, ensures that certain officials, including Magistrates and revenue officers, cannot be compelled to disclose when they obtained information about offences. This provision protects the confidentiality of information acquisition, which is vital for effective law enforcement and the integrity of public revenue.