Jammu Kashmir's First Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complex Inaugurated

Justice Gita Mittal, Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey inaugurated the first Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complex of Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar on Saturday.

The Vulnerable Witnesses Deposition Complexes (VWDCes) ensure a safe and comfortable environment for vulnerable witnesses including victims of child sexual abuse to depose.

The VWDC in Srinagar houses separate witness room, separate accused room, play area for child witnesses, pantry, separate toilet and a comfortable waiting area. Besides, it is equipped with facilities of audio-visual exchange for interface between presiding judges, the witness and the accused, so that the vulnerable witness does not face the accused. This is important to prevent re-traumatization of the witness.

Justice Gita Mittal is the innovator of the Vulnerable Witness Deposition Complex having designed the courtroom during her tenure at the Delhi High Court. She had established a Vulnerable Witness Courtroom in each district court complex of Delhi. For this institutional innovation, she was conferred with the Nari Shaki Puruskar by the President of India in 2018, which is the highest civilian honour for women in India.