Criminal trials me witness backbone hote hain. Lekin bohot cases me important witness court me aake apni hi pehle wali statement se mukar jata hai – kisi police station me jo bola tha, ab uska denial. Aise witness ko “hostile” declare kiya jata hai.
Reasons mixed ho sakte hain:
- Threats ya pressure accused side se,
- Police ne pehle galat statement likh di ho,
- Time lapse se memory weak ho gayi ho,
- Social/family pressure, settlement, ya simple fear.
Law prosecution ko allow karta hai ki hostile witness ko cross-examine kare, yaani apne hi witness se tough sawaal puchhe aur contradictions highlight kare. Court phir decide karta hai ki kaun se parts believe karne layak hain, kaun nahi. Hostile declaration ka matlab yeh nahi ki witness ki sari baat automatically reject ho jaye.
Kabhi-kabhi false evidence ya deliberate lie ke case me witness pe prosecution initiate bhi ho sakti hai, lekin practical world me yeh rare hota hai, kyunki system witness ko protect karne me hi struggle karta hai.
Hostile witnesses ke widespread phenomenon se criminal justice pe logon ka trust hurt hota hai. Long pendency, poor victim/witness protection, aur local power imbalances is problem ko fuel karte hain.