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BSA · Chapter IV

Of Oral Evidence — MCQs with answers

10 exam-style questions on this chapter, written from the actual legal text and tagged for UPSC, Judiciary and CLAT. Five are shown below with answers and explanations — the rest are in the free interactive drill.

Q1 · easy · BSA S.54

What does Section 54 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 state about proof of facts by oral evidence?

  1. A.All facts, including the contents of documents, may be proved by oral evidence.
  2. B.All facts, except the contents of documents, may be proved by oral evidence.✓ correct
  3. C.Only the contents of documents may be proved by oral evidence.
  4. D.No facts may be proved by oral evidence.

Why: Section 54 states: "All facts, except the contents of documents may be proved by oral evidence." It therefore permits proof by oral evidence of all facts other than the contents of documents.

Read Section 54 — Proof of facts by oral evidence →

Q2 · easy · BSA S.54

Under Section 54, can the contents (terms) of a written agreement be proved by oral evidence?

  1. A.No, the contents of a written agreement cannot be proved by oral evidence.✓ correct
  2. B.Yes, the contents of a written agreement may be proved by oral evidence.
  3. C.Only if both parties agree may the contents be proved orally.
  4. D.Only when the written agreement is unsigned may its contents be proved orally.

Why: The provision expressly excludes "the contents of documents" from proof by oral evidence. Therefore the contents or terms of a written agreement cannot be proved by oral evidence under Section 54.

Read Section 54 — Proof of facts by oral evidence →

Q3 · medium · BSA S.54

Can oral evidence be used, under Section 54, to prove that a particular document (for example, a contract) actually existed or was executed?

  1. A.No; documents and their existence cannot be proved by oral evidence.
  2. B.Only if the document's contents are first proved may its existence be proved orally.
  3. C.Yes; the existence or execution of a document is a fact distinct from its contents and may be proved by oral evidence.✓ correct
  4. D.Only in criminal proceedings can the existence of a document be proved orally.

Why: Section 54 permits proof by oral evidence of all facts except the contents of documents. The existence or execution of a document is a fact separate from its contents, so it may be proved orally under Section 54.

Read Section 54 — Proof of facts by oral evidence →

Q4 · medium · BSA S.54

May the terms of a signed will (the contents of the will) be established by oral testimony under Section 54?

  1. A.Yes — oral testimony can establish the terms of a will.
  2. B.Yes — if the will's witnesses testify, the terms can be proved orally.
  3. C.Only when the will is contested can its terms be proved orally.
  4. D.No — the terms are contents of a document and thus cannot be proved by oral evidence.✓ correct

Why: Section 54 excludes "the contents of documents" from proof by oral evidence. The terms of a signed will are the contents of that document and therefore cannot be proved by oral testimony under this provision.

Read Section 54 — Proof of facts by oral evidence →

Q5 · hard · BSA S.54

Which statement best captures the scope of Section 54's rule on oral evidence?

  1. A.The section allows oral evidence to prove the contents of documents but not other facts.
  2. B.The section bars oral evidence only for official government documents' contents.
  3. C.The section bars oral evidence for the contents of documents, while permitting oral proof of all other facts (such as existence or surrounding circumstances).✓ correct
  4. D.The section prohibits any oral evidence in legal proceedings.

Why: Section 54 states that "All facts, except the contents of documents may be proved by oral evidence." This means contents of documents are excluded from oral proof, while other facts — including existence or surrounding circumstances — may be proved orally.

Read Section 54 — Proof of facts by oral evidence →

5 more questions on Of Oral Evidence

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Questions are AI-generated from the legal text, machine-verified against the provision, and editorially reviewable. Education, not legal advice.