148.Court to decide when question shall be asked and when witness compelled to answer
X Of the examination of witnessesVerified
If any such relates to a matter not relevant to the suit or proceeding, except in so far as it affects the credit of the by injuring his character, the shall whether or not the shall be to it, and may, if it thinks fit, warn the that he is not obliged to it. In exercising its discretion, the shall have regard to the following considerations :-
(1)Such s are proper if they are of such a nature that the truth of the imputation conveyed by them would seriously affect the opinion of the as to the credibility of the on the matter to which he testifies;
(2)Such s are improper if the imputation which they convey relates to matters so remote in time, or of such a character, that the truth of the imputation would not affect, or would affect in a slight degree, the opinion o the as to the credibility of the on the matter to which he testifies;
(3)Such s are improper if there is a great disproportion between the importance of the imputation made against the 's character and the importance of his evidence;
(4)The may, if it sees fit, draw from the 's refusal to , the inference that the if given would be unfavourable.
