Section 342 of the Code makes it obligatory for a Court to examine the accused generally on the case after the witnesses for the prosecution have been examined and before the accused is called on for his defence. Even when the accused has been examined at an earlier stage, the Court must examine him generally after the close of the prosecution case, i.e. after the examination and cross examination of the prosecution witnesses and their further cross-examination if any, after the charge is framed and before he is called upon to produce his defence, so as to give him an opportunity to explain any points which are not included in the questions put to him at earlier stages. After the Court has asked all the questions it considers necessary, it is still desirable to ask the accused whether he has anything else to say.
