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India gets first witness protection scheme
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.