Section 15

Facts bearing on question whether act was accidental or intentional.

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

  • Act 1 of 1872
  • Ministry of Law and Justice
  • Legislative Department
All sections
    When there is a question whether an act was accidental or intentional, 1[or done with a particular knowledge or intention,]the fact that such act formed part of a series of similar occurrences, in each of which the person doing the act was concerned, is relevant.
    Illustrations
    (a) A is accused of burning down his house in order to obtain money for which it is insured.
    The facts that A lived in several houses successively each of which he insured, in each of which a fire occurred, and after each of which fires A received payment from a different insurance office, are relevant, as tending to show that the fires were not accidental.
    (b) A is employed to receive money from the debtors of B. It is A's duty to make entries in a book showing the amounts received by him. He makes an entry showing that on a particular occasion he received less than he really did receive.
    The question is, whether this false entry was accidental or intentional.
The facts that other entries made by A in the same book are false, and that the false entry is in each case in favour of A, are relevant.
    (c) A is accused of fraudulently delivering to B a counterfeit rupee.
    The question is, whether the delivery of the rupee was accidental.
    The facts that, soon before or soon after the delivery to B, A delivered counterfeit rupees to C, D and E are relevant, as showing that the delivery to B was not accidental

Notes

1. Ins. by Act 3 of 1891, s. 2.

Source: India Code (Legislative Department, Govt. of India). Check the official Gazette before relying on it in court. Not legal advice. Free legal aid: 15100 (NALSA) · Know your rights

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