New Delhi: This may come as a crucial ruling as regards many cases depending upon witness protection programme.
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled out the possibility of giving protection to all witnesses in criminal cases.
However, the apex court asked the Centre to conduct a sample survey at a Delhi court to ascertain the types of cases in which such facility could be extended.
Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan observed that it was not possible to provide protection to every witnesses, as there were too many pending cases.
"How can there be a blanket protection? Do you (petitoner) have an idea how many witnesses would be required to be protected?” a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice D K Jain was quoted as saying.
The Bench was expressing its view after senior lawyer Vivek Tankha, appearing for an NGO, Country First - which has filed the petition for enacting a legislation on witness protection - said the country cannot be allowed to suffer the menace of hostile witnesses.
The Supreme Court, while directing Delhi courts to conduct a sample survey of criminal courts and also the pending cases, asked them to file a status report on the feasible option of instances where witnesses can be given protection.
The court also requested a status report on the amendment in CrPC which provides for witness protection.
While the counsel for the NGO was trying to impress on the court that there should be an effort to evolve a system of witness protection, the Bench said the extent of cases pending in courts throughout the country has to be first considered.
The Bench said the media can say and write whatever they think but it should also know in what types of cases the witnesses were required to be protected.
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