Cabinet approval has been given on Sunday to repeal the existing Witness Protection Act to implement the Witness Protection Scheme for the protection of witnesses in criminal cases. For this, the government will introduce the Uttarakhand Witness Protection Act (Repeal) Bill in the monsoon session.
After passing in the Assembly, preparations will be made to implement the Witness Protection Scheme as per the provisions of the new Indian Civil Security Code. Uttarakhand Witness Protection Act 2020 is in force in the state for the protection of witnesses. This Act is effective under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Section defines protection of witnesses
Indian Civil Security Code-2023 (BNSS) has been implemented in place of CrPC across the country from July 1 last year. Section 398 of BNSS provides for the implementation of Witness Protection Scheme for the protection of witnesses. This section defines the protection of witnesses. In such a situation, to implement the witness protection scheme, it was necessary to repeal the existing Act, so a proposal was placed in the cabinet by the Home Department. After discussion in the cabinet, approval was given to repeal the Uttarakhand Witness Protection Act.
