ABSTRACT:
Witnesses protection program and witnesses protection laws are simply the need of the hour. In fact, it is the absence of these laws that has helped in further strengthening the criminals and offenders. But ironically in India, such programs and laws are a far cry from reality. Where leave alone protection, the witnesses is not even treated with respect or asked for water. A criminal case is built upon the edifice of evidence that is admissible in law. For that, witnesses are required, whether it is direct evidence or circumstantial evidence. Today the witnesses are a harassed lot. Not only that the witnesses is bribed, threatened, abducted, even maimed or done away with. For all these reason are many more, a person abhors from becoming a witnesses.