Courts cannot be absent of witnesses

It's concerning that our authorities are struggling to bring witnesses to court, calling into question the entire legal system. According to a police report, witnesses are unwilling to testify in criminal cases, due to fear of violence, lack of trust in the legal system, and absence of state protection among other issues. As a result, credibility of cases is being challenged, which often leads to them getting dismissed. This leaves perpetrators unpunished, and in turn, encourages them to carry out more crimes. Suffice to say, the state must address this dysfunction if it's concerned about the lack of law and order.

As per the report, 43 percent of witnesses surveyed don't want to testify in cases centring crimes like robbery and rape, while 24 percent are scared to do so. Furthermore, 28 percent said they were threatened by the accused's side. If this is the scenario, we cannot expect individuals to put their lives on the line to testify. Ensuring this safety falls on the shoulders of law enforcers and the legal system. But when 79 percent of witnesses have no faith in the criminal justice system and 51 percent complain about the lack of state protection, it's clear that the authorities concerned are failing to perform their duties.

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The consequences of this failure are far-reaching. As reported, 50 percent of robbery cases have failed to ensure justice as witnesses refused to testify, while lack of proper testimonies has led to 46 percent of cases filed by the narcotics department getting dismissed. Negligence is pervasive as well, as officers reportedly make individuals witnesses without their consent. This is unacceptable and points to a sheer lack of accountability.

There are a host of options for authorities to improve this situation, as stated in the police report itself. Enacting and implementing witness protection laws is of paramount importance, as it's the first measure to ensure their safety. Taking testimonies virtually, providing transport costs, and ensuring swift trial proceedings are some of the other recommendations, which need to be implemented on an urgent basis. Above everything, the state must remember just how important it is to ensure a functioning justice system so that law and order prevails.