Thursday, February 24 2005 12:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Centre is contemplating "sweeping reforms" in criminal justice system with emphasis on witness protection and streamlining evidence recording procedure to check an alarming rise in the number of hostile witnesses leading to largescale acquittals in cases pertaining to heinous crimes.

"We are considering sweeping reforms in the criminal justice system. Witnesses should not be allowed to be influenced. There is also a need to improve evidence recording system. We are also trying to trim the procedure," Law Minister H R Bhardwaj said.

"I have already held discussions with the Home Ministry on the issue," he said on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Bar Association of India.

He said that certain "contradictions" in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), that affect the examination of witnesses in courts, also had to be removed.

Citing an example, the Minister said, "As per Section 161, CrPC, a police official may reduce into writing any statement made to him during the investigation by a witness. But the next Section says no such statement shall be signed by the witness, this helps the witness to retract."

Bhardwaj said that in many cases the police officials also tend to distort the statements of witnesses and do not record the truth and felt there was a need to have an overseeing authority in this regard.