Why In The News?

• The Assam Cabinet started the Assam Witness Protection Scheme, 2024 because witnesses in court cases are being threatened more and more.
• This action is in line with Section 398 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and is meant to make evidence in court cases safer and more trusting.

Implementation of the Witness Protection Scheme:

=> The plan lets witnesses ask for safety through a Competent Authority that is set up in each district.

=> There is a District and Sessions Judge in charge of this authority, as well as the Head of Prosecution, an officer chosen by the District Magistrate, and the District Police Head.

=> The method sorts witnesses into three groups, called A, B, and C, based on how dangerous they think the situation is.

Protection Measures and Funding:

=> Protection tactics include trials that are recorded, putting in security systems at witnesses’ homes, and maybe even moving them temporarily.

=> A State Witness Protection Authority will also create and oversee a special fund to help with these steps, making sure there are enough resources to protect witnesses.

Revisions in Transportation Penalties:

=> Also, the Assam Cabinet has made important changes to the rules for transportation.

=>  To make things easier on people’s budgets, fines for riding a two-wheeler without the right paperwork have been removed.

=> However, helmet laws are still in effect.

=> The other way around, three-wheeled cars will get up to four warnings before they are fined for breaking the rules.

About Assam Witness Protection Scheme:

=> The Assam government set up rules for the Assam Witness Protection Scheme in 2020 to keep witnesses in criminal cases safe from threats or harassment.

=>  As part of the plan, witnesses are kept anonymous, moved, given police protection, and given money if they need it.

=> Based on risk levels, it tells the difference between the three types of threats and adjusts the security details accordingly.

=> It also stresses that witness names should be kept secret, gives police agencies a few rules to follow, and includes monitoring and evaluation tools to see how well protection measures are working and make changes as needed.