Report No. 198

(Q) 4. Should apart from prosecution witness, a defence witness be also eligible to be admitted into the Witness Protection Programm, if danger to his life or property exists due to his being a witness?

Over 27 respondents out of 40 are in favour of defence witnesses also being admitted to the programmes if danger to their life or property exists. Of these 6 are State Governments, 6 are police officers and 3 are from Judges and 12 others. Others are not in favour.

The benefit of the programme could be extended to defence witnesses also because the basis of extending the programme to defence witnesses is that their life and property is in danger.

But, as the question of funding the programme may have some constraints, for the present, the programme may be confined to prosecution witnesses and victims in the matter of crimes triable by a Court of Session.