Witnesses turning hostile worries PM

Manmohan also asked if new provisions were required in law to deliver justice.

In his first public but indirect comments on the Jessica Lall case Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that witnesses turning hostile leading to cases being lost was causing concern to the society.

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He also stressed on the need to reflect whether new provisions were required in law to deliver justice.

However, while maintaining that "something urgently needed to be done to revamp" the criminal justice system, Chief Justice of India YK Sabharwal cautioned against "knee-jerk" reactions and "overburdening" the judicial magistracy without providing adequate manpower.

"We are living in an era of increasing public awareness and consciousness. As awareness rises, expectations rise as well.

"The manner in which some cases are being prosecuted, particularly where cases fall because witnesses turn hostile or change their evidence, is causing concern to ever increasing sections of the society.

"There is need for all of us to reflect whether the existing procedures are adequate and foolproof, whether we are using all available provisions to prevent deviant behaviour, and whether we need new provisions in law so that the justice system is seen to deliver justice", Singh said while inaugurating a day-long conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts.

He, however, did not specifically mention the controversial acquittals in the Jessica Lall case.