Hooda suggests signed statements from witnesses

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today urged the Centre to further amend the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr PC) to ensure signed statements of witnesses in their own handwritings, evolve measures to cut short trial periods and lay emphasis on improving the rate of conviction.

Speaking at a Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security here, he took the issue of separate High Court for the state saying that it was necessary to provide justice speedily.

He said though the Centre had brought about changes in the Cr PC recently, it should be further amended to ensure signed statements of witnesses in their own handwriting so as to tackle the problems of witnesses retracting from their statements made before the investigating officers.

"Also, it would help in checking the fall in convction rate in criminal cases," he said, adding "at the same time, there was a need to protect the witnesses and prevent them from turning hostile." Mr Hooda said there was also an urgent need to evolve measures to cut short trial periods which have lengthened beyond reasonable limits.

"Instead of making existing laws more harsh, emphasis should be laid on improving the conviction rate by plugging the loopholes in the present system," he added.

There was also a need to increase the amounts of fine prescribed in the Penal Code for various offences to make them more punitive, Mr Hooda said.

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