LIIofIndia Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback

Indian Parliamentary Research Service Legislative Summaries

Parliamentary Research Service
You are here:  LIIofIndia >> Databases >> Indian Parliamentary Research Service Legislative Summaries >> 2006 >> [2006] INPRSLS 13

Database Search | Name Search | Recent Documents | Noteup | LawCite | Help

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2006 - Legislative Brief [2006] INPRSLS 13 (23 August 2006)

Legislative Brief

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2006


The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 23, 2006.


The Bill has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (Chairperson: Smt. Sushma Swaraj).

Highlights of the Bill

Key Issues and Analysis

Recent Briefs:

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2006

March 22, 2007


The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth) Amendment Bill, 2006

December 1, 2006


Chakshu Roy

chakshu@prsindia.org



March 26, 2007


PRS Legislative ResearchCentre for Policy Research Dharma Marg Chanakyapuri New Delhi – 110021

Tel: (011) 2611 5273-76, Fax: 2687 2746


PART A: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL1

Context

In India, the definition of a criminal offence and the quantum of punishment for the same are laid down in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC). The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) provides the procedural mechanism for investigation and trial of offences under the IPC and other laws.

Giving false evidence and/or lying on oath are referred to as perjury. Giving “false evidence” is an offence under IPC2. The Supreme Court has observed that, “trial in most of the sensational cases does not start till the witnesses are won over.”3 In its 111th report the Standing Committee on Home Affairs was “made to understand that the conviction rate in criminal cases is as low as ten percent due to perjury.” 4

A “victim” is a person who has suffered loss or injury by an action of another person. In 1985, the United Nations adopted the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. Some countries have provisions for providing compensation to victims5. In India, CrPC has so far not recognised the concept of a “victim”.

This Bill addresses the issues of witnesses turning hostile, and recognition of and compensation to victims. It also provides for fast trial in some cases and amends the process of arrest, investigation and trial.


Key Features

Hostile Witnesses

According to CrPC, during the investigation of a cognizable case1 (a) a statement made by a witness to a police officer may be recorded in writing by the officer6 and (b) a statement or confession may be recorded on oath in front of a Metropolitan or Judicial magistrate7. A statement made to a police officer does not need to be signed by the person making the statement8. It cannot be used as evidence in trial except to contradict that witness. A statement given on oath adds to a case but is not sufficient to convict an accused.

Victim Compensation

Summary Trial

CrPC lays down two different procedures for trial of warrant cases2 and summons cases.

Investigation and Trial of Rape Cases

Death Sentence

Arrest Procedure

Recording of Statement

Compoundable offences

Trial of person of unsound mind

PART B: KEY ISSUES AND ANALYSIS

Comparison with Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2003

The provisions related to hostile witnesses were first introduced in Parliament in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 200312. The 2003 Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs13. The Committee recommended the deletion of all the provisions amending CrPC aimed at preventing witnesses from turning hostile.

The 2003 Bill was first debated in the Rajya Sabha during the Winter Session 2005. During the debate, the government dropped the provisions related to hostile witnesses. The modified Bill was thereafter passed by both Houses of Parliament. The 2006 Bill introduces provisions similar to those that were dropped in December 2005.


Hostile Witnesses

During trial in court, the prosecution and the defense are entitled to call for witnesses. The party calling the witness is entitled to examine him14. However, it cannot cross examine its own witness. If a witness deviates from his previous statement, the party examining the witness, with the permission of the court, is entitled to cross examine the witness. If a witness deviates from the statement given before the magistrate, the witness commits the offence of perjury and can be punished for the same.

The 178th Report of the Law Commission addressed the issue of hostile witnesses15. This Bill incorporates all its recommendations on this subject except one. The Law Commission recommended that the statement of a witness recorded before a magistrate, in an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for 10 years or more, be treated as evidence, subject to the (a) witness being produced and examined in court, (b) discretion of the court and (c) provisions of the Evidence Act. This recommendation is not included in this Bill.

The following table explains the impact of the different provisions of CrPC compared to that of the Bill.

Section

CrPC

Effect

The Bill

Effect

162

Statements given to police by a witness not to be signed

Statement does not have evidentiary value, except for contradicting the witness

Statements given to police by a witness to be signed

Statement does not have evidentiary value, except for contradicting the witness

164 (CrPC) / 164 B (The Bill

Police may produce a witness before a magistrate and have the statement recorded in front of a magistrate.

  • Discretion of a police officer to produce or not to produce a witness for recording of statement.

  • Statement is admissible as evidence.

  • Increase in the work load of magistrate.

Police shall produce all material witness compulsorily in front of a magistrate for recording of statement in cases of offences punishable with death or imprisonment for 10 years or more.

  • Discretion of the police officer as to which witness is material in a case.

  • Statement is admissible as evidence.

  • Increases the work load on a magistrate.

195A (The Bill)



A witness or any other person can file a complaint under Section 195A IPC (threatening or inducing a witness to give false evidence)


344 (CrPC) / 344 A (The Bill)

Summary procedure for trial for giving false evidence

Imprisonment for a maximum period of three months with fine

Summary procedure for giving false evidence subsequent to giving statement to a magistrate under Section 164B

Imprisonment for maximum two years and minimum three months with fine

Section 193 of IPC makes giving false evidence an offence punishable with imprisonment up to seven years with fine.

Sources: CrPC, the Bill and IPC.

Both CrPC and IPC deal with the issue of giving false evidence. Under CrPC (Section 344) the trial judge can initiate summary proceedings for giving false evidence.

To initiate proceedings under IPC for punishing a witness for perjury, a trial judge or an authorized officer of the court is required to file a complaint and sign the same. This means that the trial judge or authorised officer is required to be present at every stage of trial for perjury. Also, this is a warrant trial, and is a longer process. Thus, the CrPC route is simpler for the trial judge (though it carries a lesser penalty).

While discussing the 2003 Bill having similar provisions, the Standing Committee on Home Affairs in its 111th reportError: Reference source not found observed that (i) the evidential value of the recorded statement before police officer does not change even after getting it signed by the witness, (ii) in some situations it may violate the fundamental right of a person under Article 20(3) as some of the potential witnesses can also be accused16, (iii) since the investigating officer has the discretion to decide who would be a material witness in a criminal case, the professional/fictitious witnesses available in police station can be turned as material witness by the police, which may increase corruption, and (iv) the mandatory recording of statements by the magistrate would increase the burden of the already overburdened magistrates. The Committee also expressed its apprehension that the provisions related to signing of statement could be misused by the police resulting in corruption.

Most of the provisions in the Bill to prevent witnesses turning hostile are already present in CrPC.

Victims

The rights of an accused person in a criminal proceeding are protected by CrPC. However the concept of a victim is not recognized as the crime is considered to be against the State. The Bill defines a “victim” and provides that a victim can appoint a lawyer to coordinate with the prosecution. This is subject to the discretion of the court. The word “coordinate” is ambiguous. The Bill does not explicitly entitle the victim to appoint a lawyer to protect his rights and interests in court.

The compensation scheme proposed in the Bill is not very clear. As per the Bill, on a recommendation of the court the District Legal Services Authority shall decide the quantum of compensation to be paid. In cases where a trial does not take place the District Legal Services Authority after conducting an inquiry would award “adequate” compensation. The Bill does not specify the mechanism for computing the quantum of compensation to a victim.

Redundancy

The Bill specifies that, during investigation, any girl below the age of 18 may be detained only in the custody of a remand home or a recognised social institution. This provision may be redundant. Section 10 of The Juvenile Justice Act, (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 specifies that “… in no case, a juvenile in conflict with law shall be placed in a police lockup or lodged in a jail.” That Act defines any person below the age of 18 years as a juvenile.

Investigation and Trial of Rape Cases: Non-mandatory Provisions

The Bill puts a time line of two months in which trial in rape cases may be completed. The Bill also provides that the investigation in a rape case of a child may be completed within three months from the date of registration of FIR. However neither of these time lines are mandatory.

The Bill also provides for investigation of rape cases to be done by a woman police officer, if practicable. However, the provision is not mandatory, and male police officers may also investigate the offence of rape. Similarly the provision that the trial in such cases be presided by a woman judge is not mandatory.

1A cognizable case (listed in the First Schedule to CrPC ) is one in which a police officer may arrest a person without a warrant. Investigation of a non cognizable case may be carried out only on the order of a magistrate.

2A case of an offence punishable with death or with imprisonment in excess of two years is called a warrant case. All other cases are called summons cases. Summons cases relate to minor offences and may be tried under CrPC by a fast track (summary) procedure.

3Compounding refers to a procedure where the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings, and settle out of court.

1Notes

. This Brief has been developed on the basis of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2006 introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 23, 2006. The Bill has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (Chairperson: Smt. Sushma Swaraj).

2. Section 191, IPC. It is punishable with imprisonment up to seven years.

3. Order dated August 8, 2003, in W.P(Crl.) No. 109/2003 (National Human Rights Commission v. State of Gujarat)

4. Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, 111th report on Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2003. The report was presented to the Rajya Sabha on March 02, 2005 and laid on the table of the Lok Sabha on March 04, 2005.

5. United Kingdom has enacted the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act, 1995.

6. Section 161(3), CrPC.

7. Section 164(1), CrPC.

8. Section 162(1), CrPC.

9. A State/ District Legal Services authority is established as per the provisions of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987.

10. The list of sections of IPC, offences under which are compoundable is given in two tables under Section 320 of CrPC. 25 sections of IPC have been added to the earlier list of 33 sections. The new sections of IPC are: 324, 335, 343, 344, 346, 379, 403, 406, 407, 411, 414, 417, 419, 421, 422, 423, 424, 428, 429, 430, 451, 482, 483, 486 and 312.

11. Submitted on 22 August, 1996. Available at http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/101-169/Report154Vol1.pdf.

12. The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 22, 2003.

13. It was referred to the Committee on Home Affairs in January 2004 but lapsed with the dissolution of Thirteenth Lok Sabha in February 2004. It was referred to the Committee on Home Affairs again on 17 August 2004 (Chairman: Smt. Sushma Swaraj).

14. Section 137, The Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

15. Submitted on December 14, 2001. Available at http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/178rptp1.pdf.

16. No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.



DISCLAIMER: This document is being furnished to you for your information. You may choose to reproduce or redistribute this report for non-commercial purposes in part or in full to any other person with due acknowledgement of PRS Legislative Research (“PRS”). The opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author(s). PRS makes every effort to use reliable and comprehensive information, but PRS does not represent that the contents of the report are accurate or complete. PRS is an independent, not-for-profit group. This document has been prepared without regard to the objectives or opinions of those who may receive it.



LIIofIndia: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.liiofindia.org/in/other/INPRSLS/2006/13.html