Petition by Satyamev Jayate
To: Chief Justices of all High Courts
Region: India
Background: The trauma that a survivor of rape goes through is heightened when she is made to confront the accused in court and recount the horrific details of the assault. This leads to further victimization, sometimes intimidation, and in many cases survivors turn hostile, leading to acquittals of the accused.
In 2013, as part of the Vulnerable Witness Project, the Delhi High Court created the Vulnerable Witness Deposition Complex, a special courtroom at the Karkardooma Court Complex, where survivors can testify in a safe and secure environment. This can be done via a video link from a separate room near the courtroom in a way that the survivor never has to confront the accused, who is denied entry into this room.
In case the survivor wishes to testify before the judge, the accused is moved to a room adjacent to the courtroom with a one-way viewing glass that allows him to see and hear the proceedings. He is provided with an audio link so that he can give instructions to his lawyer.
Petition: We, the undersigned, urge and request that special courtrooms be set up across all states at the earliest, along the lines of the Vulnerable Witness Deposition Complex in Delhi. This online signature petition will be sent to chief justices of all High Courts in the country. It is time that this long-overdue provision be made available for survivors of rape and sexual assault across India.
Your signature can help bring about this change.