Criminal trials me baar-baar sunne ko milta hai – “witness hostile ho gaya”. Matlab witness ne police statement me kuch bola tha, aur court me aa kar ya to sab deny kar diya, ya major u-turn le liya.
Reasons mixed hote hain:
- Darr, dhamki, corruption,
- Long delay, memory fade,
- Family/community pressure,
- Kabhi-kabhi initial statement hi police ne incorrectly record kiya hota hai.
Jab witness hostile declare hota hai, to prosecution usko cross-examine kar sakti hai, jaisa normally defence karte hain. Court phir dono versions, surrounding evidence, medical and forensic material sab weigh karke decide karta hai ki kya sach ke kareeb lagta hai.
Hostile hona case ko weak zaroor karta hai, lekin automatic acquittal ka matlab nahi. Systemically, strong witness protection programs, speedy trials, aur police recording practices improve hona zaroori hai.
