Witness protection scheme need of the hour: HC

While commenting on a public interest litigation (PIL), the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday admitted that there is a need for witness protection scheme in the country.

While commenting on a public interest litigation (PIL), the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday admitted that there is a need for witness protection scheme in the country.

A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur observed that witness protection has not been adopted in India like in foreign countries. The observations were made in wake of a PIL filed by Paramjit Singh, a resident of Malout. The petitioner had alleged that he was falsely implicated in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by the Punjab Police. Paramjit was a witness in the case.

The case registered against him was quashed last year and a case registered against the erring police officers. The petitioner had filed a PIL demanding protection for all those witnesses who were harassed by the police officers.

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Refusing to show any conviction in the averments raised in the PIL, the Chief Justice said that no general directions can be passed in such a case. Arguing on behalf of the petitioner, Advocate Amit Sharma had contended that directions be issued to trial courts that trials pending against police officers should be expedited and be heard on day-to-day basis.

“We will not pass any general directions. There are competing priorities. Just because a police officer has been chargesheeted, it does not mean that cases of senior citizens, NRIs, widows and other important cases should be delayed. There is no need for directions to the trial courts. Do you think that by passing one order, every witness will be protected and no police officer will intimidate a witness?” asked the Chief Justice.

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