In Brief
This judgment addresses the need for infrastructure and procedures to facilitate vulnerable witness testimony in criminal trials, particularly in sexual assault and abuse cases. The Court held that the dignity of the person under Article 21 requires creation of barrier-free deposition centres nationwide. High Courts must establish Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres in all district courts within four months. The definition of 'vulnerable witness' was expanded to include age and gender-neutral victims of sexual assault, persons with mental illness, speech/hearing impaired persons, and those with threat perceptions. States must fund infrastructure; Justice Gita Mittal appointed to chair a national training committee for all stakeholders. The application was disposed of with comprehensive directions for implementation.
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