Under Section 157 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (corresponding to the former Section 154 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872), the court may, in its discretion, permit the person who calls a witness to put any questions to him which might be put in cross-examination by the adverse party. Such a witness is commonly called -

Section 157 of the BSA, 2023 corresponds to the former Section 154 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and provides that the court may, in its discretion, permit the person who calls a witness to put any questions to him which might be put in cross-examination by the adverse party. When such permission is granted, the witness is commonly described as a hostile witness. Granting permission to cross-examine one's own witness is a matter of judicial discretion; mere disappointment with the testimony of a witness is not enough, and there must be a demonstrable element of hostility, whether shown by the testimony itself or by the demeanour of the witness.