Section 142 of BSA : Section 142: Examination of witnesses.

Explanation using Example

Example 1:

Ravi is a witness in a theft case. The prosecution (the party who called Ravi) begins by asking Ravi questions about what he saw on the night of the theft. This initial questioning by the prosecution is known as the examination-in-chief.

After the prosecution finishes, the defense lawyer (the adverse party) gets a chance to question Ravi. The defense lawyer asks Ravi questions to challenge his testimony or to bring out inconsistencies. This is known as cross-examination.

Once the defense lawyer finishes, the prosecution may ask Ravi additional questions to clarify or rebut points raised during the cross-examination. This is known as re-examination.

Example 2:

In a civil case involving a property dispute, Priya is called as a witness by the plaintiff (the party who called her). The plaintiff's lawyer asks Priya questions about the property documents and her knowledge of the property's history. This is the examination-in-chief.

After the plaintiff's lawyer finishes, the defendant's lawyer (the adverse party) questions Priya to find any discrepancies in her statements or to present a different perspective on the property documents. This is the cross-examination.

Following the cross-examination, the plaintiff's lawyer may ask Priya further questions to address any issues raised during the cross-examination. This is the re-examination.