212. Right To Be Defended By Pleader. Every person accused before any Criminal Court may as of right be defended by a pleader:Provided that in the case of serious offences if the accused is a pauper the Attorney General, on application by the accused and if satisfied that it is necessary in the interest of Justice, shall appoint an advocate to defend the accused and pay all or part of the costs. 213. General Procedure In Inquiries and Trails By Magistrates. Except as otherwise provided in this Code the general order of procedure in inquires and trials before a Magistrate shall, so far as may be, be the same as provided in Chapter XIX of trials by High Courts. 214. Oaths. Every witness giving evidence in any inquiry or trial under this Code shall take an oath or make a solemn affirmation that he will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; Provided that the evidence of any person, who by reason of youth or ignorance or otherwise is in the opinion of the Court unable to understand the nature of an oath, may be received without the taking of an oath or making of an affirmation if in the opinion of the Court he is possessed of sufficient intelligence to justify the reception of the evidence and understands the duty of speaking the truth. 215. Nature of Evidence. Evidence shall be admitted in every judicial proceeding under this Code in accordance with reason and justice with a view to ascertaining the truth without unfair treatment of the accused or the witnesses and in particular:(a) nothing shall be admitted as evidence which does not tend directly or indirectly to prove or disprove the charge, and (b) the evidence produced shall be the best obtainable in the circumstances of the case. 216. Protection of witnesses. The Court shall prevent the putting of irrelevant questions to the witnesses and shall protect them from any language, remarks or gestures likely to intimidate them; and it shall prevent the putting of any question of an indecent or offensive nature unless such question bears directly on facts which are material to the proper appreciation of the facts of the case. 72