CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND EVIDENCE ACT 234. 235. 236. 237. 238. Requiring witness to enter into recognizance. Absconding witnesses. Committal of witness who refuses to enter into recognizance. Arrest and punishment for failure to obey subpoena or to remain in attendance. Service of subpoena to secure attendance of witness residing outside jurisdiction of court. 239. Payment of expenses of persons attending court. 240. 241. 242. 243. B. Evidence on commission Taking evidence on commission. Parties may examine witness. Return of commission. Adjournment of inquiry or trial. 244. 245. 246. 247. 248. C. Competency of witnesses No person to be excluded from giving evidence except under this Act. Court to decide questions of competency of witnesses. Incompetency from mental disorder or defect and intoxication. Evidence for prosecution by husband or wife of accused. Evidence of accused and husband or wife on behalf of accused. D. Oaths and affirmations 249. Oaths. 250. Affirmations in lieu of oaths. 251. When unsworn or unaffirmed testimony admissible. 252. 253. 254. 255. 256. 257. 258. 258A. 259. 260. 261. 262. 263. 264. 265. 266. 266A. E. Admissibility of evidence Inadmissibility of irrelevant evidence. Hearsay evidence. Admissibility of dying declarations. Admissibility in criminal cases of evidence of absent witnesses in certain circumstances. Admissibility of confessions and statements by accused. Failure of accused to mention certain facts to police may be treated as evidence. Admissibility of facts discovered by means of inadmissible confession. Admissibility or inadmissibility of illegally-obtained evidence. Confession not admissible against other persons. Evidence of character — when admissible. Evidence of genuineness of disputed writings. Certified copy of record of criminal proceedings sufficient without production of record. Issue estoppel. Evidence of bodily appearance, health or prints of accused. Appointment to public office. Proof of signature of public officer not necessary. Admissibility of evidence obtained from certain foreign countries. F. Evidence of accomplices 267. Accomplices as witnesses for prosecution. 268. Evidence of accomplice cannot be used against him. 269. 270. 271. 272. 273. 274. G. Sufficiency of evidence Sufficiency of one witness in criminal cases, except perjury and treason. Conviction on single evidence of accomplice, provided the offence is proved aliunde. Procedure on plea of guilty. Procedure where there is doubt in relation to plea of guilty. Conviction on confession. Sufficiency of proof of appointment to public office. 7