Hostile Witness

Solution

A hostile witness is a witness who appears to be refusing to fully testify in support of the person who called them or testifies in a way that significantly differs from their pre-trial statement. The person who calls you as a witness expects you to provide the court with evidence similar to what you may have said in a pre-trial statement. If you refuse to answer questions or contradict what you said before, the person who called you can apply to the judge to have you declared a hostile witness. Section 154 of the Indian Evidence Act talks about the hostile witness. This section enables the court to permit the party to cross-examine his own witness, who has become hostile.