Video facilities to record evidence of witnesses

The Government is considering bringing in a legislation to allow use of audio and video facilities to record evidence of witnesses.

With witnesses turning hostile in Jessica Lal and other high-profile cases, the Government is considering bringing in legislation to allow use of audio and video facilities to record evidence of witnesses to deter them from turning hostile.

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The proposed bill, among other things, might contain a provision for providing compensation to victims who are ignored in many cases, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Assuring that a comprehensive bill for amending the Code of Criminal Procedure Act will be introduced in Parliament shortly, Patil said the proposed legislation might be referred to a standing committee after its introduction.

Patil was replying to a brief debate on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2006, which was passed by the House by a voice vote.

The Home Minister said the proposed bill would also consider recording of evidence in important cases before a magistrate.

Shantaram Naik (Cong), Mehnul Hassan (CPI-M) and Ravi Shankar Prasad spoke on the bill.