NEW DELHI: The draft witness protection scheme of the Central government was on Wednesday approved by the Supreme Court and asked all the states to implement it till the Parliament comes out with a legislation. A bench headed by Justice AK Sikri said that they have made some changes in the scheme.
The issue of witness protection scheme had cropped up earlier when the top court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking protection for witnesses in rape cases involving self-styled preacher Asaram Bapu. On November 19, Attorney General KK Venugopal had told the apex court that the draft scheme, which has now been finalised, would be made into a law “in due course”, but till then the court should direct the states to start implementing it.
The top court had asked the Centre to finalise the scheme after getting response from the states and Union Territories.
