Today, On 20th September, The Supreme Court raised concerns over the inadequate implementation of the Witness Protection Scheme, highlighting gaps in safeguarding witnesses during legal proceedings. The court emphasized the critical need for effective measures to ensure the safety and security of witnesses, which is essential for the integrity of the justice system.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Friday, voiced concern over the inadequate implementation of the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, observing that the condition of witnesses in the Indian legal system remains dire.
A bench comprising Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma highlighted the crucial role witnesses play in helping courts reach accurate conclusions, particularly in criminal trials.
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Citing the English philosopher and jurist Jeremy Bentham, the court remarked,
“Witnesses are the eyes and ears of justice.”
However, the bench noted,
“The condition of witnesses in the Indian legal system is very pathetic. They are threatened, coerced by force, and enticed by monetary offers from those in power, their associates, and hired hands, all with the aim of suppressing the truth and mocking justice.”
Despite the central government framing and the Supreme Court approving the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, the bench emphasized that,
“There is hardly any effective implementation of the same.”
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The Supreme Court made these remarks while ordering a CBI investigation into a case where the petitioner claimed he had never filed an appeal and insisted that he had not appointed any of the lawyers present in court to represent him in the matter.
The lack of enforcement has left witnesses vulnerable to intimidation and manipulation, thereby jeopardizing the pursuit of justice.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to reinforce protections for witnesses in India’s legal system and to ensure that the existing schemes are enforced with greater rigor and accountability.