The Supreme Court has directed the trial courts to consider granting protection to witnesses in cases against sitting and former lawmakers under Witness Protection Scheme without their making any specific application in this regard.
A three-judge bench of Justices NV Ramana, Surya Kant and Anirudhha Bose, said the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, approved by it should be strictly enforced by the Union, States and Union Territories.
“Keeping in mind the vulnerability of the witnesses in such cases, the Trial Courts may consider granting protection under the said Scheme to witnesses without their making any specific application in this regard,” the bench said.
The apex court noted that most witnesses are unwilling to appear before the respective Courts to make depositions in courts.
It directed that no unnecessary adjournments be granted in cases related to lawmakers keeping in mind the…