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BSA 2023ACTIVE FRAMEWORK
Section 131
Witness Not Excused from Answering on Ground That Answer Will Criminate
THE STATUTE
Original Text
A witness shall not be excused from answering any question as to any matter relevant to the matter in issue in any suit or in any civil or criminal proceeding, upon the ground that the answer to such question will criminate, or may tend directly or indirectly to criminate, such witness, or that it will expose, or tend directly or indirectly to expose, such witness to a penalty or forfeiture of any kind:
Provided that no such answer, which a witness shall be compelled to give, shall subject him to any arrest or prosecution, or be proved against him in any criminal proceeding, except a prosecution for giving false evidence by such answer.
Legal Commentary
BSA Section 131 is textually identical to IEA Section 132. The compellability + use-immunity framework is preserved unchanged. All case law — including M.P. Sharma on Article 20(3) — applies under BSA Section 131.
Questions & Answers
No — BSA Section 131 is identical to IEA Section 132. Witnesses still must answer self-incriminating questions; answers still protected by use-immunity.