Section 357(1) in The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1989 (1933 A. D.)
(1)[The Government] [In section 4(1)(a), (1) and (p). 7(2), 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 415(3), 108, 132, 157, 158, 161, 173, 178, 188, 193(2), 196, 196-A, 197, 218, 261, 263, 265, 319, 320(1), 321, 335, 357, 358, 382, 386, 392, 399, 422, 464, 466, 471, 474, 483, 492, 495, 528, 541 and 554 the words 'The Government' substituted for the words 'His Highness' by Act X of 1996.] may direct that in any district or part of a district, or in proceedings before any Court of Session, or before any Magistrate or class of Magistrates the evidence of each witness shall, in the cases referred to in section 356, be taken down by the Sessions Judge or Magistrate with his own hand and in his mother-tongue, unless he is prevented by any sufficient reason from taking down the evidence of any witness, in which case he shall record the reason of his inability to do so and shall cause the evidence to be taken down in writing from his dictation in open Court.