What is Hearsay Evidence
According to the Indian Evidence Act, hearsay evidence is no evidence. Hearsay evidence is not a direct evidence.
The word hearsay itself gives a clue that something which is not directly heard. Hearsay evidence means any information which a person gathers or collects from a person who has first-hand knowledge of that fact or information.
Therefore, we can conclude that it is a second hand information. The general rule is that hearsay evidence is not admissible in the court of law. Section 60 of the Evidence Act states that oral evidence must be direct.
The person must directly hear, see, or sense the fact.
For example:
I saw a woman running with a blooded knife. The information is itself seen by the witness. It is admissible.
I heard from my watchman that a woman was running with a blooded knife. It is hearsay evidence. Generally, it is not admissible in court.
Exceptions to the Rule of Hearsay Evidence
It is said that “hearsay evidence is no evidence.” Direct evidence is more reliable and acceptable in court. But there are some exceptions to this rule.
When hearsay evidence is accepted by court:
Res Gestae Admission Confessions Dying Declaration
Evidence Given in Former Proceedings
Res Gestae
The rule of res gestae means ‘the facts which form part of the same transaction.’ This rule is given under section 6 of the Indian Evidence Act. The statement of a person may be proved in the court through another person who appears as a witness in court if the fact which he states in court forms a part of the same transaction.
Admission
Admission is also an exception to the rule that says hearsay evidence is no evidence. Section 17 of the Indian Evidence Act defines admission as a statement, either oral or in the form of a document or electronic form, which gives inference to any fact in issue. If a person in the court makes a statement against his own interests, then the court accepts such a statement on the ground that a person shall never make a statement against his own interests.
Confessions
Confession means when a person admits his guilt in the court. Confession has nowhere been defined in the Indian Evidence Act. Section 24 to section 30 of the Indian Evidence Act deals with the provisions relating to confession. If a person gives extra-judicial confession that is outside the court, it may be proved through the testimony of that person to whom such confession was made. Though the witness did not hear himself or saw anything related to the offence. But the confession by a person may be proved through his testimony in the court.
•You may also like to read these law notes related to confession:
•Confession in Police Custody – Is it Relevant
•Retracted Confession Under Indian Evidence Act
•Admissibility of Confession Given by a Co-Accused
Dying Declaration
Section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act talks about the statement of a person who cannot be called as a witness in court. There might be a situation when a person is on death bed or suffering from any disability due to which he could not appear before the court. In such cases, if the person gives his statement to any other person relating to his death or cause of death, then the person to whom such statement has been transmitted may appear before the court as a witness and give hearsay evidence as to what he heard from the declarant.
Evidence Given in Former Proceedings
If the person to be called as a witness dies or due to some other reason is not able to appear before the court, then the statements given by such person in former or previous proceedings may be used as a piece of evidence for proving the truth in subsequent proceedings.
Even the entries in books of accounts and public registers like official books are relevant statements which can be adduced before the court in matters of inquiry. Though the person may not be alive, but the statements he made previously in books or official registers are admissible in court.com
