Vulnerable Witnesses: A Broader Definition

On 11th January, 2022, the Supreme Court expanded the meaning of vulnerable witnesses to also include among others sexual assault victims, those with mental illness and people with speech or hearing impairment.

Earlier in 2019, the Supreme Court, while hearing a special leave petition in the case of Smruti Tukaram Badade v. State of Maharashtra, orally remarked that the definition of the term vulnerable witness might not be constrained to child witnesses.

Old Definition

  • Vulnerable Witness - a child who has not completed 18 years of age.

New Definition

Vulnerable Witness includes -

  • age neutral victims of sexual assault
  • gender ....
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