The Haryana government has taken a significant step toward implementing the three new criminal laws by introducing the Haryana Witness Protection Scheme, 2025, aimed at safeguarding witnesses in the state. The home department has issued a notification regarding this initiative, an official statement confirmed on Thursday.

The scheme applies to witnesses in cases where the offences are punishable by death, life imprisonment, or a jail term of seven years or more. It also extends to offences under Sections 74-79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 8, 10, 12, 14, and 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012.

Witness protection measures will be implemented based on the level of threat and will be granted for a maximum of three months at a time. Each district will have witness protection cells, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) or Superintendent of Police (SP), responsible for executing witness protection orders.

To maintain confidentiality, the identity of the witness will not be disclosed during hearings, and applications will be processed based on available records. Witnesses will be classified into three threat categories:

●      Category A: Life-threatening risks to the witness, their family, or associated individuals during the investigation, trial, or thereafter.

●      Category B: Threats to safety, reputation, or property of the witness or their family.

●      Category C: Moderate threats, including harassment or intimidation.

The scheme outlines several protection measures, including preventing face-to-face encounters between witnesses and accused persons, monitoring communications, changing phone numbers, installing security devices, providing temporary relocation, court escorts, and state-funded transport. Additional provisions include in-camera trials, audio-video testimonies, facial and voice modification, and expedited depositions to avoid trial delays.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini previously announced that the three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—will be implemented in Haryana by the end of this month. These laws, which replace the IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act, respectively, came into effect on July 1 last year after their passage in Parliament.