Persons giving evidence bound to state the truth
Section 8 of the Oaths Act, 1969 deals with persons giving evidence bound to state the truth. Every person giving evidence on any subject before any court or person hereby authorised to administer oaths and affirmations shall be bound to state the truth on such subject. The Act came into force on 26 Dec 1969.
Every person giving evidence on any subject before any court or person hereby authorised to administer oaths and affirmations shall be bound to state the truth on such subject.
Section 8, The Oaths Act, 1969 (Act 44 of 1969).
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Krishnamoorthy vs Sivakumar
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Non-disclosure of pending criminal cases involving heinous or serious offences, corruption, or moral turpitude by a candidate in the affidavit filed with nomination papers constitutes undue influence and corrupt practice under Section 123(2) of the Representation of People's Act, 1951, as it directly interferes with the free exercise of electoral right by depriving voters of their fundamental right to know the criminal antecedents of candidates, thereby preventing them from making informed and advised electoral choices. Once such non-disclosure is established in an election petition, the election must be declared null and void under Section 100(1)(b) of the RP Act without requiring proof that the result was materially affected.
On this section: Concept of oath and its sanctity in legal proceedings
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 8
What have the courts held on Section 8 of the Oaths Act?
Krishnamoorthy vs Sivakumar (21 Jan 2015) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Concept of oath and its sanctity in legal proceedings.
How do I find court cases under Section 8 of the Oaths Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Oaths Act 1969 8, section 8 Oaths Act 1969, section 8 of the Oaths Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Krishnamoorthy vs Sivakumar (21 Jan 2015).
When did Section 8 of the Oaths Act come into force?
Section 8 of the Oaths Act, cited as Oaths Act 1969 8, came into force on 26 Dec 1969, having been enacted on 26 Dec 1969. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.