Report No. 198
Chapter IV
Questionnaire in Chapter VIII of Consultation Paper: Responses
Before we take up discussion of the important issues, as already stated, it is necessary to analyse the responses to the Consultation Paper.
Responses to the Consultation Paper
We may state that the subject matter of Witness Anonymity and Witness Protection Programmes is directly connected with the procedural aspects of due process in the criminal justice system. Therefore, the Law Commission felt it necessary to obtain views and suggestions of all the important players in the criminal justice system.
In order to elicit responses from all important agencies and persons on the relevant issues, the Commission circulated an exhaustive Consultation Paper along with its summary and questionnaire, in August 2004 and it was sent to the Union Government and all the State Governments, Directors General of Police of all States, Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, Bar Associations, Human Right Commission of Union and States. Consultation Paper was also placed on Law Commission's website.
The Consultation Paper received widespread recognition not only within the country but outside the country also. Apart from the views expressed in various seminars, the Commission received fifty two responses in writing. Among the respondents, 11 were from the State Governments, 1 from State Law Commission, 12 from Directors General/Inspectors General of Police, 3 from Judges of High Court and 2 from Judges of subordinate courts, 3 from International and other organizations, remaining 20 from Jurists, advocates, public prosecutors and other legal persons.
More than 40 respondents have sent their reply to the questionnaire, while rest have sent their views/suggestions in a general fashion. Answers on each question given by the respondents are discussed below.