Compiled by: Sachi Kapoor | Concept & Edited by:
Dr. Mohan Dewan
"Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" a
question we've heard time and again in multiple courtroom
dramas. Commonly known as the Oath, this is a mandate for a person
testifying in the Court of Law or submitting an affidavit (as per
The Oaths Act, 1969). If a person defies such a mandate by lying
under Oath, it amounts to a crime called 'Perjury' in
addition to 'Contempt of Court'.
Perjury is an act, where a person produces false evidence with
complete knowledge of such evidence being false before the Court of
Law in an attempt to deceive or mislead the court and lead to
miscarriage of justice. Lying in an affidavit will also amount to
Perjury since an Affidavit is a truthful submission made before the
Court of Law under Oath. In case, the crime of Perjury has taken
place, the Court has every right to disregard such falsely
