Why is it in news?
-
The Supreme Court brought in place a witness protection regime in the country.
-
It notes that one of the main reasons for witnesses turning hostile is that they are not given security by the State.
-
A Bench of SC said Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 will come into effect immediately across all States.
New Scheme
- Under the scheme witness protection may be as simple:
-
as providing a police escort to the witness up to the courtroom
-
more complex cases involving an organised criminal group, taking extraordinary measures such as offering temporary residence in a safe house, giving a new identity, and relocation at an undisclosed place.
-
The SC said the scheme, which aimed to enable a witness to depose fearlessly and truthfully, would be the law of the land till Parliament enacted suitable legislation.