Literal Meaning
No man is obliged to accuse himself except before God.
Origin
This maxim is old and is used in modern times. This maxim is interpreted by many jurists in many cases. This is a maxim of which, perhaps alone of all countries, England can be said to hold to strictly.
Explanation
For not only does our law refuse to call on a man to accuse himself, but it will not admit his confession unless it be shown to have been made freely and voluntarily. And the courts look very strictly to this, for if they can see that any, the slightest inducement, either by way of promise or of threat, or anything which the prisoner might consider as such, has been held out to him, they reject the confession.
“Thus confessions have been refused admission where the prosecutor used the following expressions:
‘I should be obliged to you if you would tell us what you know about it; if you will not, of course we can do nothing.’
‘I only want my money, and if you give me that you may go to the devil, if you please,’ upon which defendant took part of the money from his pocket, and said that was all he had left.
‘Anything you can say in your defense we shall be ready to hear.”
“It must be added that an exhortation, admonition, promise, or threat, proceeding at a prior time from someone who has no concern in the apprehension, examination, or conviction of the prisoner, but interferes without any authority, will not render a confession inadmissible”.
Illustration
In other words, the prisoner at the bar is fully entitled to plead not guilty whatever the facts may be. Similarly a witness may refuse to answer questions on the ground that a reply might incriminate him.
Cases Referred
Nandani Satpathy vs. PL bani & ors.
The maxim nemo teneturseipsum accusare had its origin in a protest against the inquisitorial an. whirlpool and the rock where the safety of society and the worth of the human person may co-exist in peace. 30. We now move down to the role of the Latin maxim “nemo tenetur seipsum tenetur
Edited by Vigneshwar Ramasubramania
Approved & Published – Sakshi Raje
