Witness Protection Scheme 2018 has come into force : Minister

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : As per the latest published report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Conviction Rate (CVR) of IPC crimes at national level was 45.1 % in 2014, 46.9 % in 2015, and 46.8 % in 2016.

Lack of witness protection is one of the reasons amongst others for low conviction rate. Police and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and for prosecuting the criminals through their law enforcement agencies. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued advisories to the States and UTs, from time to time, to maintain law and order.

These advisiories are available in the Ministry’s website vizwww.mha.gov.in. However, a Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, was prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs and submitted to the Supreme Court of India. The Supreme Court, in its order dated December 5, 2018 in the Writ Petition No. 156/2016, has approved  the said Witness Protection Scheme, 2018. The scheme has come into effect from the date of the judgement.

This was stated by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 2018, according to a PIB release.