Section 14: Protection of witnesses

14. Protection of witnesses.— All proceedings before a Special Court shall be conducted in open Court. Provided that, where the Public Prosecutor so applies or the Special Court considers it necessary so to do for any reason, any proceedings or part thereof may be held in camera. (2) A Special Court may, on an application made by a witness in any proceedings before it or by the Public Prosecutor in relation to such witness or on its own motion, take such measures as it deems fit for keeping the identity and address of the witness secret. (3) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (2), the measures which a Special Court may take under that sub-section may include (a) the holding of the proceedings at a protected place; (b) the avoiding of the mention of the names and addresses of the witnesses in its orders or judgments or in any record of the case accessible to public; and (c) the issuing of any directions for securing that the identity and addresses of the witnesses are not disclosed. (4) Any person who contravenes any direction issued under sub-section (2) shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term of three years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.

Effective date: 1992-01-01

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