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  "title": "OATHS ACT, 1873",
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  "text": "THE OATHS ACT, 1873 \r\n(X of 1873) \r\nCONTENTS \r\nI- PRELIMINARY \r\n1. Short title \r\n2. Repeal of enactment \r\n3. Saving of certain oaths and affirmations \r\nII- AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER OATHS  \r\nAND AFFIRMATIONS \r\n4. Authority to administer oaths and affirmations \r\nIII- PERSONS BY WHOM OATHS OR  \r\nAFFIRMATIONS MUST BE MADE \r\n5. Oaths or affirmations to be made by \r\n6. Oath by a Muslim or by a non-Muslim who has no objection \r\nIV-.FORMS OF OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS \r\n7. Forms of oaths and affirmations \r\n8. Power of Court to tender certain oaths \r\n9. Court may ask party or witness whether be will make oath proposed by \r\nopposite. Party \r\n10. Administration of Oath if accepted \r\n11. Evidence conclusive as against person offering to be bound \r\n12. Procedure in case of refusal to make Oath \r\nV-MISCELLANEOUS \r\n13. Proceeding and Evidence \r\n14. Person giving evidence bound to state the truth \r\n15. Amendment of Penal Code \r\n16. Official Oaths abolished \r\nSCHEDULE \r\n \r\nTEXT \r\nTHE OATHS ACT, 1873 \r\n(X of 1873) \r\n[8th April, 1873] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto consolidate the Law relating to Judicial Oaths, and for other purposes. \r\nPreamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate the law relating to judicial oath, \r\naffirmations and declarations , and to repeal the law relating to official oaths,  \r\naffirmations and declarations; It is hereby enacted as follows:– \r\nI.–PRELIMINARY \r\n1. Short title.– This Act may be called the \r\n1\r\n[* * * *] Oaths Act, 1873.  \r\nLocal extent.– \r\n2\r\n[It extends to the whole of Pakistan.] \r\n3\r\n[* * * * * * * * * * * *   ] \r\n2. Repeal of enactments.–  [Repealed by The Repealing Act, 1873( XII of \r\n1873).]    \r\n3. Saving of certain oaths and affirmations .– Nothing herein contained \r\napplies to proceedings before Courts Martial, or to oaths, affirmations or declarations \r\nprescribed \r\n4\r\n[by or under any law \r\n5\r\n[or] President’s warrants \r\n6\r\n[* * *] for the time being in \r\nforce.]   \r\nII.–AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER  \r\nOATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS \r\n4. Authority to administer oaths and affirmations .– The following Courts and \r\npersons are authorized to administer , by themselves or by an officer empowered by \r\nthem in this behalf, oaths and affirmations in discharge of the duties or in exercise of \r\nthe powers imposed or conferred upon them respectively by law:– \r\n(a) all Courts and persons having by law or consent of parties authority to \r\nreceive evidence;  \r\n                                                 \r\n1Omitted the word “Indian” by G.G.O. of 1949, Sch. \r\n2Substituted  by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (XXI of 1960) w.e.f 14. 10.1955, s. 3 and 2nd Schedule; \r\nand published in Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 9.6.1960. \r\n3Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1876 (XII of 1876). \r\n4Substituted  by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (XXI of 1960) w.e.f 14.10.1955, s. 3 and 2nd Schedule; \r\nand published in Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 9.6.1960. \r\n5Inserted by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981)  w.e.f 8.6.1981  s.3 and 2 nd \r\nSchedule.p.386. \r\n6Omitted  by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981) w.e.f 8.6.1981 s.3 and 2 nd Schedule \r\np.386. \r\n7\r\n[(b) the Commanding Officer of any military,  naval or air force station  or \r\nship occupied by the Armed Forces of Pakistan, provided that the oath \r\nor affirmation is administrated within the limits  of the s tation or on the \r\nship.]  \r\nIII.-PERSONS BY WHOM OATHS OR  \r\nAFFIRMATIONS MUST BE MADE  \r\n5. Oaths or affirmations to be made by witnesses; interpreters; Jurors.– \r\nOaths or affirmations shall be made by the following persons:– \r\n(a) all witnesses, that is to say, all persons who may lawfully be examined, \r\nor give, or be required to give, evidenc e by or before any Court o f \r\nperson having by law or consent of parties authority to examine such \r\npersons or to receive evidence; \r\n8\r\n[and] \r\n(b) interpreters of questions put to, and evidence given by, witnesses\r\n9\r\n[:] \r\n10\r\n[(c) * * * * * * * * * * *   ] \r\n11\r\n[Provided that where the witness is a child under twelve years of age, and \r\nthe Court or person having authority to examine such witness is of opinion that, \r\nthough he understands the duty of speaking the truth , he does not understand the \r\nnature of an oath or affirmatio n, the foregoing provisions of this section and the \r\nprovisions of section 6 shall no t apply to such witness, but in any such case the \r\nabsence of an oath or affirmation shall not render inadmissible any evidence  given \r\nby such witness nor the obligation of the witness to state the truth.] \r\nNothing herein contained shall render it lawful to administer, in a criminal \r\nproceeding, an oath or affirmation to the accused person, \r\n12\r\n[unless he is examined as \r\na witness for the defence,] or necessary to administer to the official interpreter of any \r\nCourt, after he has entered on the execution of the duties of his office, an oath or \r\naffirmation that he will faithfully discharge those duties.  \r\n13\r\n[6. Oath by a Muslim or by a non-Muslim who has no objection.– (1) Where \r\nthe witness or interpreter is a Muslim, he shall make an oath.  \r\n(2) Where the witness or interpreter is not a Muslim, he shall make an oath \r\nor, if he has an objection to making an oath, an affirmation.] \r\nIV. – FORMS OF OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS \r\n                                                 \r\n7Substituted  by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981) w.e.f 8.6.1981 s.3 and 2 nd \r\nSchedule p.386. \r\n8Added by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981) w.e.f 8.6.1981 s.3 and 2 nd Schedule \r\np.387. \r\n9Substituted  by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981) w.e.f 8.6.1981 s.3 and 2 nd \r\nSchedule p.387. \r\n10Omitted  by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981) w.e.f 8.6.1981 s.3 and 2 nd Schedule \r\np.387. \r\n11inserted by Indian Oaths (Amendment) Act , 1939 (XXXIX of 1939) \r\n12Inserted by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981) w.e.f 8.6.1981 s.3 and 2 nd Schedule \r\np.387. \r\n13Substituted  by the Federal laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance,1981(XXVII of 1981) w.e.f 8.6.1981 s.3 and 2 nd \r\nSchedule p.387. \r\n7. Forms of oaths and affirmations.– All oaths and affirmations ma de under \r\nsection 5 shall be administered according to such forms as the High Court may from \r\ntime to time prescribe.  \r\nAnd until any such forms are prescribed by the High Court, such oaths and \r\naffirmations shall be administered according to the forms now in use. \r\n14\r\n[Explanation.– *  * * * * * * * * * *   ] \r\n8. Power of Court to tender certain oaths.– If any party to, or witness in, any \r\njudicial proceeding offers to give evidence on oath or solemn affirmation in any form  \r\ncommon amongst, or held binding by, persons of the race or persuasion to which he \r\nbelongs, and not repugnant to justice or decency and not purporting to affect any \r\nthird person, the Court may, if it thinks fit, notwithstanding anything hereinbefore \r\ncontained, tender such oath or affirmation to him.  \r\n9. Court may ask party or witness whether be will make oath proposed by \r\nopposite Party.– If any party to any judicial proceeding offers to be bound by any  \r\nsuch oath or solemn affirmation as is mentioned in section 8, if such oath or \r\naffirmation is made by the other party to, or by any witness in, such proceeding, the \r\nCourt may, if it thinks fit, ask such party or witness, or cause him to be asked, \r\nwhether or not he will make the oath or affirmation: \r\n Provided that no party or witness shall be compelled to attend personally in \r\ncourt solely for the purpose of answering such question. \r\n10. Administration of oath if accepted .– If such party or witness agrees to \r\nmake such oath or affirmation, the Court may proceed to a dminister it, or, if it is of \r\nsuch a nature  that it may be more conveniently made out of Court,  the Court may \r\nissue a commission to any person to administer it , and authorize him to take the \r\nevidence of the person to be sworn or affirmed and return it to the Court. \r\n11. Evidence conclusive as against person offering to be bound .– The \r\nevidence so given shall, as against the person who offered to be bound as \r\naforesaid, be conclusive proof of the matter stated.  \r\n12. Procedure in case of refusal to make Oath .– If the party or witness refuses \r\nto make the oath or solemn affirmation referred to in section 8, he shall not be \r\ncompelled to make it, but the Court shall record, as part of the proceeding s, the \r\nnature of the oath or affirmation purposed, the facts that he was asked whether he \r\nwould make it and that he refused it, together with any reason which he may assign \r\nfor his refusal. \r\nV.– MISCELLANEOUS \r\n13. Proceeding and evidence not invalidated by omission of oath or \r\nirregularity.– No omission to take any oath or mak e any affirmation, no substitution \r\nof any one for any other of them , and no irregularity whatever , in the form in which \r\nany one of them is administered, shall  invalidate any proceeding or render \r\ninadmissible any evidence  whatever, in or in respect of which  such omission, \r\n                                                 \r\n14Repealed by the Lower Burma Courts Act, 1900 VI of 1900) s.48 and 2nd Schedule.  \r\nsubstitution or irregularity took place, or shall affect the obligation of a witness to \r\nstate the truth. \r\n14. Persons giving evidence bound to state the truth .– Every person giving \r\nevidence on any subject before any Court or person hereby authorized to administer \r\noaths and affirmations shall be bound to state the truth on such subject. \r\n15. [Amendment of Penal Code, Sections 178 and 181 ].– Repealed by the \r\nRepealing Act, 1938 (I of 1938), s.2 and schedule. \r\n16. Official Oaths abolished .– Subject to the provisions of sections 3 and 5, no \r\nperson appointed to an office shall, before entering on the execution of the duties of \r\nhis office, be required to make any oath, or to make or subscribed any affirmation or \r\ndeclaration whatever. \r\nSCHEDULE \r\n[Repealed by the Repealing Act, 1873(XII of 1873).]",
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