Srinagar, Nov 05 : In a significant development, the administration of
Jammu & Kashmir is likely to roll out a scheme for safeguarding
vulnerable witnesses based on threat perception, sources disclosed
Saturday.
Sources told that the government is likely to come up with a witness
protection scheme to facilitate the protection of persons who are
involved directly and indirectly in providing assistance to law
enforcement agencies and overall administration of justice.
“The scheme has already been rolled out by different states. There
have been discussions over it at different levels in UT. We are likely
to notify it,” a senior official said, adding that government will
come up with a series of measures to be adopted to safeguard witnesses
and their family members from intimidation and threats against their
lives, reputation and property.
He said the protection will be provided to witnesses on a case to case
basis depending upon their vulnerability and threat perception. “The
witness protection measures will be proportionate to the threat for a
specific period,” he said, adding that the measure will ensure
improved convictions in criminal cases.
It is worthwhile to mention that in 2019 Jammu and Kashmir High Court
framed a protocol for recording evidence of vulnerable witnesses.
It defines vulnerable witnesses as children below 18 years of age,
victims of sexual violence, material witness in dangerous crimes and
such other witness as may be deemed by trial court for reasons thereof
to be record in writing.
