It is the duty of the Court to examine the accused and seek his explanation on incriminating material that has surfaced against him.

Section 313 Code

No matter how weak or scanty the prosecution evidenceEvidence All the means by which a matter of fact, the truth of which is submitted for investigation, is established or disproved. Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Adhiniyam 2023 is in regard to certain incriminating material, it is the duty of the Court to examine the accused and seek his explanation on incriminating material that has surfaced against him. Section 313 Code of Criminal Procedure is based on the fundamental principle of fairness. The attention of the accused must specifically be brought to inculpatory pieces of evidence to give him an opportunity to offer an explanation if he chooses to do so. Therefore, the court is under a legal obligation to put the incriminating circumstances before the accused and solicit his response. This provision is mandatory in nature and casts an imperative duty on the court and confers a corresponding right on the accused to have an opportunity to offer an explanation for such incriminatory material appearing against him. Circumstances which were not put to the accused in his examination under Section 313 Code of Criminal Procedure cannot be used against him and have to be excluded from consideration. (Vide: Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 1984 SC 1622; State of Maharashtra v. Sukhdeo Singh and Anr., AIR 1992 SC 2100; and Paramjeet Singh @ Pamma v. State of Uttarakhand, AIR 2011 SC 200)