A fresh batch of amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure is in the offing and this time several new provisions to prevent witnesses turning hostile are to be included. Significant among them is a proposed CrPC amendment to videograph statements of key witnesses and accused to prevent them from resiling.The amendments — based on recommendations of the Law Commission in its 154th, 177th and 178th reports—have been routed by Ministry of Home Affairs to the Law Ministry. Officials say the CrPC Amendment Bill 2006 is likely to be introduced in the next Parliament session.Following the furore over developments in the Jessica Lal and Priyanka Mattoo murder cases, the Home Ministry has proposed three fresh provisions to prevent witnesses from turning hostile. The proposed amendments are:• All statements of important witnesses, including the accused, to be electronically recorded.• All statements made to police also to be signed by the witnesses and accused persons.• All material and essential witnesses in heinous crimes to be presented simultaneously before the magistrate for recording of evidence.The Home Ministry’s proposals also include other provisions to prevent arbitrary arrests (based on the DK Basu judgment) and enhancement of scope of summary trials. There are other proposed amendments to enhance the compoundability of offences (in theft cases, it is proposed to raise the ceiling of the value of stolen property) and giving the right of appeal to victims in criminal cases just as it available to complainants.
