The Supreme Court-constituted Committee on reforms concerning the use of “stock witnesses” held its South Zone Consultation in Bengaluru on September 5 and 6, bringing together judges, prosecutors, police officials, lawyers and administrators to examine ways to curb the practice in criminal investigations.
At the valedictory session, Justice Vivek Agarwal of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, who chairs the Committee, said technological and administrative reforms alone could not eliminate the problem and stressed the need to address the deeper issue of public morality.
Justice Agarwal said a key takeaway from the two-day consultation was the need to encourage genuine and independent witnesses to participate in criminal proceedings. He called for measures to make court appearances easier, including greater use of electronic appearances, while reducing delays and repeated summons.
He also emphasised that witnesses should be treated with respect and that mechanical or repetitive summoning should be avoided. Greater transparency in the process of summoning witnesses was also required, he said.
Among the reforms discussed was the separation of investigation from law-and-order duties, which was highlighted as an important measure for improving investigative independence. Suggestions were also made for local mechanisms to identify repeatedly used witnesses and distinguish “stock witnesses” from witnesses who are genuinely present in multiple cases.
The consultation also examined proposals for digital witness repositories, digital police-station diaries, investigation management systems and greater use of technology to preserve and authenticate evidence. Participants suggested using tools such as e-Sakshya and the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) to improve accountability and traceability.
Justice Agarwal also highlighted concerns over the fear faced by members of the public in becoming witnesses. He endorsed the suggestion that witnesses be treated as “guests of the court” and called for greater public awareness, beginning at the school level.
He further noted that police performance should not be judged solely by conviction rates, as such pressure could encourage improper investigation or the use of false witnesses.
Concluding the session, Justice Agarwal said stronger public morality, technology-driven reforms and more witness-friendly courts were essential to tackling the problem.
The consultation was attended by senior judicial, police, prosecutorial and legal officials from several southern States.
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