Jessica Case: Need To Revamp Witness Protection Program

After a seven-year-long struggle, Model Jessica Lal's killers have finally been brought to justice. On the one hand there are voices which feel the verdict is an amazing victory for justice but there is another dark side of the case where the guilty almost succeeded in using the loopholes in the law and lack of a substantiate witness protection program to slip away.

The verdict in the case was given on the basis of socialite Bina Ramani's testimony. The prosecution cited 92 grounds for a review of the lower court verdict and the high court agreed to all of them.
Meanwhile Ramani has also sought some kind of a witness protection program in the country so that more unsung Jessica's can get justice.

The Jessica Lal murder case had seen several twists over the past seven years, during which as many as 99 of the 100 witnesses turned hostile.

"There should be strong protection for witnesses and I will be on the forefront to create some kind of platform," Ramani told PTI at her Goa residence minutes after the verdict was pronounced by the Delhi high court.

 "There will be no Zaheera Sheikhs and Shayan Munshis if we have more protection for witnesses," she said.

There is no doubt that all the media galore also had a very positive role and the thought that what would have been the end result if this case was not brought to the limelight is scary. An urgent need to bring justice to thousands of Indian women suffering is required. After all it was the same judicial system that let the accused walk off earlier.

Earlier Former chief justice of India V.N. Khare had suggested that autonomous investigative agencies be set up on the lines of the Election Commission and outdated laws be changed so that people do not loose faith in the Indian judicial system.

Its time our law makers introspect and try to revamp our criminal justice system so that the Nation does not witness such harsh crimes and criminals no matter how rich or powerful are booked and dealt with the law accordingly.