Jammu: J&K government on Thursday sanctioned the creation of “Witness Protection Fund” for meeting the expenses incurred on the implementation of ‘Witness Protection order(s) passed by the competent authority and other related expenditure.
“In terms of Clause-4(a) of the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, sanction is hereby accorded to the creation of corpus fond to be known as the “Witness Protection Fund” for meeting the expenses incurred on the implementation of Witness Protection Order(s) passed by the Competent Authority and other related expenditure,” read an order issued by Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra.
The fund will be operated by the Director General of Police, J&K. He will also initiate proceedings for recovery of the expenditure incurred from the ‘Witness Protection Fund’ in cases of false complaints, Kabra ordered.
Through a separate notification, the government also notified December 5, 2018 as the date on which the ‘Witness Protection Scheme’ would be deemed to have come into force in the UT.
“In exercise of powers conferred by sub-clause (b) of clause (1) of the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, the Lieutenant Governor is pleased to notify 5th of December, 2018 as the date on which the said Scheme shall be deemed to have come into force in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the notification read.
The government also ordered that the Deputy Director(s), Prosecution would be the Member Secretary(ies) of the Standing Committee(s) for the district(s) under their charge, as provided under clause 2(c) of the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018.