Question:medium

Principle: One who asserts must prove.
Facts: A desires a Court to give judgment that B, C, and D shall be punished for a crime which A says B, C and D have committed.

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The principle "One who asserts must prove" means that the burden of proof lies with the accuser.
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
  • A must prove that B, C and D were present at the place of crime
  • A must prove that B, C and D have committed the crime
  • B, C and D must prove that they have not committed the crime
  • Police must prove that B, C and D have committed the crime
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The Correct Option is B

Approach Solution - 1

Step 1: Understanding the Principle:
Whoever asserts a fact before the court carries the burden of proving that fact; the burden does not shift to the other side by default.

Step 2: Applying the Principle to the Facts:
A is asserting that B, C and D committed a specific crime and wants the court to punish them for it. Since A is the one making that assertion, A must prove the commission of the crime itself, and not just some lesser fact like presence at the location.

Step 3: Evaluating the Other Options:
Proving presence alone would not establish that they committed the crime. Placing the burden on B, C and D to prove innocence, or on the police instead of A, both go against who is actually making the assertion here.

Step 4: Final Answer:
A must prove that B, C and D committed the crime, since A is the party asserting it.
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Approach Solution -2

Major premise: whoever asserts a claim before a court carries the burden of proving it. Minor premise: A is the one asserting, before the court, that B, C and D committed a crime, and wants them punished for it. Checking each option as a conclusion from these premises:

  1. A must prove presence at the place of crime: This conclusion understates what the major premise requires; proving A's assertion means proving the crime itself, not merely a fact adjacent to it like presence.
  2. A must prove that B, C and D committed the crime: This follows exactly from the two premises, the person asserting is A, and what he asserts is that the crime was committed, so that is what he must prove.
  3. B, C and D must prove they did not commit the crime: This conclusion contradicts the major premise outright, since the burden by definition falls on the asserting party, A, not on the persons accused.
  4. Police must prove the crime: This conclusion substitutes a party, the police, who does not appear in the minor premise as the one making the assertion at all.

Only the second option matches what the major premise requires once applied to A's specific assertion in the minor premise.

Therefore, the correct answer is A must prove that B, C and D have committed the crime.

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