Kalam calls witness protection worthwhile reform

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam this evening hailed witness protection as a worthwhile legal reform, but drew attention to newer areas of concern such as digital crimes.

Inaugurating an International Seminar on 'Criminal Justice System under Stress: Transnational Perspective,' Kalam also suggested finding ways to deal with crimes against Indians working overseas.

''Legal reforms like witness protection, concealing identity of witnesses, compounding of offences and suitable protection to judges are worthwhile suggestions and should go a long way in reducing the stress on the criminal justice systems,'' he said.

The conference to commemorate an Indian Law Institute completing 50 years is being attended by experts from India and abroad, including chief justices, judges and lawyers an law scholars.

A highlight of the event presided over by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal was President Kalam's administering an oath of ''righteousness'' and ''honest life'' to young law students, which drew an all round applause.

Among those present were the Chief Justices of England and Wales, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore and Canada.

Among those who spoke on the occasion were Law and Justice Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj, seniormost Supreme Court Judge K G Balakrishnan and Attorney General Milon K Banerjee.

''One side,'' Kalam said, ''the crime rate is increasing, on the other we have slow process of decision making in the cases.

If we can adopt the principle of compounding of offences as settlement for certain cases, I am sure many petty cases will get resolved.

''Also, the witness protection will enable the witness to come forward without fear which will result in faster decision of the cases,'' He said.

As for clearing the pendency ''as suggested by me the military model could be examined for adoption, where trial takes place on day-to-day basis and adjournments are usually disfavored.'' Kalam asked experts ''to think of the problem in an integrated way. For effective control, we need the right type of detection machinery, control mechanisms, judicial systems and the law.

''We would like to have the views of the experts in this conference about how best to adopt purposeful recommendations made in the sphere of legal reforms with the right sense of urgency.'' Among goals he set before the participants was to bring about a world ''free from terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes affecting'' India's growth.

The participants will hold business sessions on Terrorism and Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice System-Shift from Justice Model to Crime Control Model, International Criminal Court and Money Laundering- A Menace Uncontrolled.

President Kalam said there was something common between science and technology and laws.

''Basically science and technology is... in its best sense aimed at spreading benefits to all people... Similarly, laws are meant to protect people, their rights and make them feel secure in the society.'' ''I think this is the common meeting ground of Law, Science and Technology, People and Society,'' he said.

''Legal instruments must maximise the benefits for our people and nation. Laws must protect the indigenous technologies and trade to the extent they impact peoples living and their welfare as well as ensure national interest.'' UNI MJ MIR RAI2221