#false testimony

Punjab & Haryana HC dismisses a compensation appeal after finding the claimant’s testimony in criminal proceedings contradicted his statements before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. The court ruled that false evidence destroys the foundation of a claim under the Motor Vehicles Act, making the claimant ineligible for relief regardless of the accident’s merits.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has held that once a civil suit concludes with a final judgment, Section 195(1)(b) CrPC cannot be invoked to launch criminal proceedings for false testimony given in that suit. This reinforces the principle that civil disputes must be resolved within the civil framework and prevents criminal law from being weaponized to relitigate settled civil matters.