Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Jammu & Kashmir High Court, led by its Chief Justice, has introduced new guidelines effective March 3, 2025, to protect vulnerable witnesses during legal proceedings. These rules target children, people with disabilities, sexual violence survivors, and those under threat, aiming to make testifying less intimidating and more accessible.
Key features include private in-camera sessions, video conferencing options for remote testimony, and support from guardians or legal aid volunteers. Separate waiting areas will keep witnesses away from defendants, while courts must keep witnesses updated on case details. For kids, judges will use simple, age-appropriate questions and schedule hearings around school and health needs.
In sexual offense cases, survivors won’t have to physically reenact assaults—instead, they can use diagrams. Travel support, Braille, sign language, and apps will assist witnesses with disabilities. Courts are told to fast-track these cases to spare witnesses repeated appearances.
The guidelines balance witness protection with the defense’s right to cross-examine, but judges must prevent harassing questions. Witness identities will stay confidential, and video testimonies will be securely stored. These rules apply immediately across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh courts, including juvenile boards, with yearly reviews planned to tweak the system.
