Delhi's Tis Hazari gets court room for kids

New Delhi: Designed like a playhouse in an open area with a pantry, small tables, chairs and a toys corner, one of the biggest court complexes of Asia, Tis Hazari, got a courtroom on Tuesday for child witnesses.

The court room no.19 with other four rooms of the Tis Hazari court is now equipped with a "vulnerable witness deposition complex".

The new complex was inaugurated by Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur and the ceremony was presided over by Delhi High Court Chief Justice G. Rohini.

"This vulnerable witness deposition complex has been specially designed to provide protection, privacy, confidentially and comfort to vulnerable witnesses and child witnesses in an in-camera atmosphere, in matters pertaining to sexual offences and others," said a court administration official.

The court has a separate entry for vulnerable witnesses so that they do not come in direct contact with the accused at any point of time.

He said there is a separate witness room and separate room for the accused, an open play area for child witnesses, a pantry, separate toilet and an exclusive and comfortable waiting area for such witnesses.

The complex has been equipped with all facilities of audio-visual exchange for a free interface between the presiding judge, the witness and the accused, without the witness having to face the accused.

There are provisions for support people, pre-trial court visit and facilities for pick and drop of the child witnesses from their residences.

All possible efforts have been made for providing a comfortable environment to vulnerable witnesses to enable them to give their best evidence in criminal proceedings.

The Karkardooma courts complex was the first to have a separate room for children in September 2012 and the Saket complex was the second to be equipped with such a deposition complex in September 2014.