Important Legal Definitions

A mandatory statutory procedure where the trial judge personally questions the accused to give them an opportunity to explain every incriminating circumstance appearing in the prosecution evidence, without placing the accused under oath.

The judge asks the accused under Section 313 CrPC: "The chemical examiner testified that human blood matching the deceased was found on your shirt. What do you have to say?" The failure to put this question prevents the court from using that evidence against the accused.