Impact Of Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Centeres On Witness Safety And Coopreation

Thrisha S, B.B.A L.L.B., (Hons), School of Excellence in Law, The TamilNadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University.

Ms.T. Vaishali, B.A. (Eng.lit)., L.L.M.,NET., Ph.D (Pursuing), Assistant Professor of Law, SOEL, The Tamilnadu Dr.ambedkar Law University.

ABSTRACT

A witness in the field of law is an individual who gives evidence or testifies to what they have seen or know about the case. They are vital to the judiciary in the solving of a Criminal case. A vulnerable witness is an individual person, for whatever reasons, stands at a higher risk suffering harm or being intimidated when they get involved in the legal process. They may be Children, Women, Victims of Trafficking or Exploitation, Disabled Persons, and Witnesses in High-Profile Cases etc.... The rationale of protection measures for vulnerable witnesses is to ensure their safety and enable them to give their evidence to the proceedings without the fear of retaliation or further pressure. NALSA thus has a great role in ensuring promotion and access to justice to vulnerable groups, and on the same lines, deposition centres have been established where guidelines and directives issued by the Supreme Court of India and different High Courts regarding deposition centres are followed to make available facilities for testimony of vulnerable witnesses. It is hoped that this research will make proposals for improving the way in which witnesses, and in particular those from vulnerable groups, can offer their assistance to justice. The real success of the Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Centres does not lie in the existence of these centres, but in how well they work. What the research will seek to address is a much deeper level of issues and problems at the very root of the witnesses' reluctance to testify, going beyond an assessment of the buildings themselves. By creating space that feels safe, especially for women and children, witnesses are able to come forward and testify without fear so that justice may be served with fairness and respect.

Keywords: Vulnerable Witnesses, Deposition Centres, Legal Protections, Access to Justice