RAYHAAN GAUTAM
B.A. LL.B 3rd SEMESTER
GEETA INSTITUTE OF LAW
E-mail: rayhaangautam2017@gmail.com
Mob. num: +91- 8950004430
An Overview
Criminal Justice in one sense is a complex social institution which regulates potential alleged and actual criminal activity with in procedural limit supposed to protect people from wrongful treatment and wrongful conviction. The purpose of criminal justice system is to deliver justice for all by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the innocent or consider the following, from working together to cut crime and deliver justice. The primary goal of criminal justice is: accurate identification of the person responsible, fair adjudication, retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation and restoration. The institution of criminal justice system are the police, prosecution and defence lawyers, the courts and prisons. Prisons should reduce crime in three principal way: by incapacitating offenders, by punishing and there by detaining others who would commit crimes, and by rehabilitating offender. The central purpose of criminal justice system is to deliver and effective, efficient, accountable and fair justice process for the public. The main challenge was that of making the prison system and the process associated with dealing prisoners more effective and efficient. To have an effective and efficient justice system witness protection is needed in criminal justice system.
Witness are the eye and ear of justice. It is important to be worthy of attention in both civil and criminal proceeding and absolutely necessary part of court. As witnesses is also and significant organ of the court and the part and parcel of the courts daily functioning. Neither the Indian Evidence Act nor any other substantial and procedural law have denoted the word “witness”. But definitely, there is interpretation of the word ‘Evidence’ in the Indian Evidence Act 1872.
I submissively deem to know firstly the definition and meaning of word ‘evidence’ as the intimation and use of the word “witness” itself has been included, incorporated. Thus the section-3 of the Indian Evidence Act 1872 defines the word ‘evidence’.
Evidence means and include:
1. All statement which court permits to be made before it by witness, in relation to matters of facts under inquiry, such statement is called oral evidence,
2. All documents produced for the inspection of the court such documents are called documentary evidence.
The word “Witness” includes various meaning and may be used for different purpose at a same time. The term witness in its strict legal sense, means one who gives evidence in a cause before a court of law, but has also been defined as one who has knowledge of a fact or occurrence sufficient to testify with respect to it, and an eye witness has been defined as one who testifies to what he or she has seen.
Basically, in general sense it is expression that makes it near that a person signing a legal document is signing it as a witness. The initial word of the concluding clause in deal:
“In witness where of the said parties have where into set their hand”, where fore translation of Latin phrase” in rei testimonium” even ought , a witness must meet the requirement set out by your jurisdiction but most often, witness must be of the age of majority in your state or province who is signing the documents.
Witnesses must make an oath or solemnly state that they will tell truth in court. In special cases, that they will tell truth in court. In special cases, witness who are under the age 14 or have an intellectual disability can simply promise to tell the truth. As witness is an import constituent of the administration of justice. They have to assist the court in the administration of Justice, by attending the court when required. The trail court may call as the courts witness person who were personally present at the event, forming the basis of the prosecution and his testimony is material or of eyewitness or any other witness. Therefore, assistance of witness is necessary for the Judge to conclude the case.
Importance of Witness in Criminal Justice System
Witness is an significant part of the administration of justice. They used to give evidence which help to link the charge of the offence, thereof witness perform a sacred duty of assisting the court to discover the truth. So, this is the reason why before giving evidence he/she either takes an oath in the name of god or make a solemn affirmation that he/she will speak truth and nothing but the truth. The witness performs an important public duty of assisting the court in deciding on the guilt or otherwise of the accused. Although he sacrifices his time and takes the trouble all the way to the court to give evidence. Therefore, they should be treated with great respect and regard as a guest of honour. But unfortunately, all these are seen not be happening in the courts.
There are two aspects to the need for witness protection. Firstly; that the phenomenon of witness turning ‘hostile’ on account of the failure to protect their evidence is one of the problems. The other aspect is the physical and mental vulnerability of the witness and to the taking care of his or her welfare in various respects which call for physical protection of the witness. This can be done by introduction of witness protection programmes. Further, both aspects of anonymity and witness protection will have to be ensured in all criminal cases involving grave crimes not limited to terrorist crimes. Yet, the witnesses help the court to give better justice without fear of their life and property. The court in return should also show its gratification in an appropriate manner.
The Hon’ble Supreme court in state of Gujarat v/s Anirudh Singh , highlight the necessity of people assistance in detection of crime observed that:” It is salutary duty of every witness who has the knowledge of the commission of the crime, to assist the state in giving evidence”. The importance of witness in the criminal justice system. Thus, witness is an important party in a case a part from the complaint and the accused committee on Reform of Criminal Justice System, emphasizing importance of witness.
Whereas the Supreme Court identified the important position of witness with respect to the fair trial.” Fair trail means a trial in which bias or prejudice for a against the accused, the witness or the cause which is being tried is eliminated”. The witness face challenge to their life and their family. Further, other who are associated with the police to help in crime prevention are also exposed to risk. Therefore, witness should be protected under the law.
Reason Behind Witnesses Hostile
As witnesses are the key to the case but what happens when these witnesses turn hostile or retract from their statement. Due to several factors like the witness being not in position for reason beyond control to speak the trust in the court or due to negligence a ignorance or some corruption. The term witness means one who gives evidence in a cause before a court of law, but it has also been defined that one who has knowledge of facts or occurrence sufficient to testify with respect to it .Basically the term,” hostile witness” was first introduced in the common law to provide adequate safeguard against the “contrivance of an artful witness” who wilfully by hostile evidence “ruin the cause” of the party calling such a witness.
1. The main cause for the high acquittal rate in our criminal justice system is the witness turning hostile. In order to get rid of this cross examination as early as possible, either the witness will give facts statement or to make the matter worse.
2. Generally, the reason is the unholy combination of money and muscle power, intimidation and monetary inducement.
3. There are a number of reasons for a witness turning hostile, the major one being absence of police protection during and after the trail.
4. Another reason is the inordinate delay in disposal of cases and intimidation is also one of the causes of witness turning hostile.
There is need to take step to stop harassment of the witness so that he does not feel frustration. There is also urgent need to provide adequate protection to the witness from intimidation by criminals. As the studies have shown, what witnesses are harassed alienated them as well. The length of the trail and the way they are treated in the court. As a witness is not treated with the respect in the court. They have to wait for whole day and then finds the matter adjourned. And when he does appear, he is subjected to un checked examination and finds himself in a helpless situation.
PROPOSED MECHANISM FOR WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME
A number of measures must be taken at the trial stage to ensure that the case is successfully prosecuted and the trial process is not compromised. Some measures, such as video testimonies or the exclusion of the general public from a hearing, are aimed at protecting the witness’s identity, privacy and dignity. Other measures, for example witness concealment or allowing witnesses to remain anonymous, are aimed at protecting their physical security.
Court witness protection measures are generally authorized and regulated under criminal (procedural) law. Such measures are intended to prevent the accused or his accomplices from violating the witness’s physical integrity in the courtroom and, in some cases, from revealing the witness’s identity. Other measures, which include anonymous witness statements or testimony behind screens, are not necessary in cases where the trafficker knows the identity of the witness.
• Testimony via video-link
Video-link testimonies, or teleconferences as they are sometimes called, allow witnesses to testify in a location other than the courtroom. Their statement is transmitted in actual time via video-link to the courtroom, where the judge, the defence counsel and the public prosecutor watch and listen to the transmission and can ask question of the witness. The room where the witness is testifying can be a separate room in the court building or in different location.
This method protects the witness from direct confrontation with and intimidation by the accused. It creates physical distance between the witness and the accused and thus an environment where the witness feels secure enough to testify. It does not, however, prevent the accused from recognizing the witness, as she or he is fully visible to the audience. In cases where it is necessary to guarantee the anonymity of the witness, video-link testimonies can be combined with techniques allowing for the distortion of the image or voice, or both, of the witness.
• Witness Concealment
In some cases, video-link testimonies may not be sufficient to guarantee effective protection for victims testifying against the traffickers. Additional measures may be necessary to avoid the witness being recognized by the trafficker. They could include video-linked testimonies combined with image- and/or voice-altering devices, or testimonies in the courtroom behind an opaque shield.
Some precautions must be taken to prevent such measures from interfering with the rights of the accused to a full defence and a fair trial. If the witnesses are not directly visible, the judge and the defendant may not able to assess the witness’s reactions to questions and consequently may not be able to assess their credibility fully. On the other hand, important evidence may be lost because witnesses may not be willing to testify when their image is visible and their identity revealed to the accused. It is necessary to balance carefully the rights and interests of the endangered witness and those of the accused.
Protection after trial involves many different authorities, including law enforcement, the judiciary, immigration services, labour authorities, civil register authorities and prison services. After the trial, the role of non-governmental organization providing victim support services is often crucial.
• Public trial and cross-examination of witnesses in open court: Indian Laws
Section 327 of Cr.Pc provides for trial in the open court and 327(2) provides for in-camera trials for offences involving rape under sec.376 of IPC and under Sec.376A to 376D of the IPC. In certain provisions of IPC and Evidence Act that requires the evidence to be taken in the presence of the accused. But in certain exceptional circumstances an accused may be denied his right to cross-examine a prosecution witness in open court. Further, under Section 173(6) the police officer can form an opinion that any part of the statement recorded under sec.161 of a person the prosecution proposes to examine as its not essential in the interest of justice or is inexpedient in the public interest. Likewise, some provisions of laws prohibits publication of the name, address, and other particulars which may lead to the identification of juvenile or other accused. In certain exceptional cases, where cross examination is not possible, previous deposition of the witness can be considered that relevant in subsequent proceedings.
• Protection of Identity of Witnesses v. Right of Accused: Principles of law developed by the Supreme Court and the High Courts.
In the pre-Maneka Gandhi phase the Supreme Court, in Gurbachan Singh v. State of Bombay , upheld a provision of the Bombay Police Act, 1951 that denied permission to a detenue to cross-examine the witnesses who has deposed against him. It was held that the law was only to deal with exceptional cases where witnesses, for fear of violence to their person or property, were unwilling to depose publicly against bad character. At this stage, the issue was not examined whether the procedure was ‘fair’. The decision in G.X. Francis v. Banke Bihari Singh and Maneka Sanjay Gandhi v. Rani Jethmalani stressed the need for congenial atmosphere for the conduct of a fair trial and this included the protection of witnesses. In othercases, the Supreme Court upheld that the discretion to the designated court to keep the identity and address of a witness secret upon certain contingencies; to hold the proceedings at a place to be decided by the court and to withhold the name and addresses of witnesses in its order.
The right of the accused to cross-examined the prosecution witnesses was not absolute but was subject to exceptions. The same reasoning was applied to uphold the validity of sec. 30 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA) in People’s Union of Civil Liberties v. Union of India . In Delhi Domestic Working Women’s Forum v. Union of India , the Supreme Court emphasised the maintenance of the anonymity of the victim of rape who would be the key witnesses in trials involving the offence of rape.
In the context of the collapse of the trial on account of witnesses turning hostile as a result of intimidation, the Supreme Court reiterated that “Legislative measures to emphasize prohibition against tampering with witnesses, victim or informant, have become the imminent and inevitable need of the day.” Although, the guidelines for witness’s protection in the manner in which the identity of the witness can be kept confidential either before or during trial. The Judgment of the Full Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Bimal Kaur Khalsa, which provides for protection of the witness from the media, does not deal with all the aspects of the problem. These Judgments highlights the need for a comprehensive legislation on witnesses protection.
Conclusion
The core objective of the study was to focus upon the problems faced by the witnesses in their interaction with criminal justice system. Besides, a comprehensive view has also been taken in this exercise to examine the issue of witness hostility. The present study attempted to take a comprehensive view concerning the issue and problems of witnesses. The focus of this research has been on the following four areas:
1. Problems of witnesses at various levels.
2. Hostility of witnesses.
3. Protection of witnesses.
4. Assistance of witnesses.
Witness is one of the most important constituents of justice. He is one of the most important sources of information in discovering the truth about the case, but the pain and troubles he has to undergo to help the court is a lot as well. By giving evidence the witness helps the courts to give correct judgment and justice. The witnesses have the danger of their lives as well as that of their families. They have the danger of their properties as well. They have to undergo lot of discomfort when they come to give evidence. Even after doing all this they do not get anything in return. Therefore, it can be clearly seen that the courts are negligent in the way they treat the witnesses.
Witness protection should take place and already various steps have been taken toward it. Many countries like, Canada, New Zealand, Australia etc. have a well-developed mechanism for witness protection. These mechanisms may encourage even more witnesses to come forward to give their evidence for the greater good. Witnesses therefore should be shown the respect and gratitude which they actually worth of. The problem of perjury also prevails and it depends upon the witness himself to stop it. Otherwise it can contribute to the wrong person being convicted while the true criminal and a perjurer walk on the streets in freedom.
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