VMD 511: Animal Welfare, Ethics and Jurisprudence (2+0)

PROFESSIONAL SECRETS

Under Section 126 of the Indian Evidence Act, a lawyer can claim privilege and will not at any time be permitted to disclose in court any communication made to him in the course and for the purpose of his employment as such by his client except with his express consent, but a veterinary witness cannot claim such privilege as regards professional secrets obtained by him or communicated to him by the owner of the animal under his care in the course of examination and treatment. Nevertheless, he should, on no account, volunteer these secrets, but should divulge them under protest to show his sense of moral duty, when pressed by the court to do so. Non- compliance with the order of the court may render him liable for contempt of court proceedings.