While taking a major stride towards implementing the three new Criminal Laws in the State, the Haryana Government has rolled out a new scheme “Haryana Witness Protection Scheme, 2025 to ensure the protection of the witnesses in the State.
A notification to this effect has been issued by the Home Department.
The scheme will be applicable to the witnesses of those offences which are punishable with death or life imprisonment or an imprisonment upto seven years and above It will also cover punishments under sections 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as under section 8, 10, 12, 14 and 15 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
Three categories of witnesses based on the threat perception
Under the scheme, there will be three categories of witnesses based on the threat perception. Category A includes situations where the threat extends to the life of the witness, their family members, or any person in whom the witness is interested, during the investigation or trial, or thereafter whereas, Category B involves cases where the threat extends to the safety, reputation, or property of the witness, their family members, or any person in whom the witness is interested, during the investigation, trial, or thereafter. Category C applies where the threat is moderate and involves harassment or intimidation of the witness, their family members, or any person in whom the witness is interested, affecting their reputation or property, during the investigation, trial, or thereafter.
A series of witness protection measures have been outlined under the “Haryana Witness Protection Scheme, 2025
A series of witness protection measures have been outlined under the “Haryana Witness Protection Scheme, 2025.” These include ensuring that the witness and the accused do not come face to face during investigation or trial; monitoring of mails, emails, telephone calls, etc.; arrangements with the telephone company to change the witness’s telephone number or assign an unlisted number; installation of security devices such as security doors, CCTV, alarms, fencing etc. in the house or workplace of the witness, his family member(s) or the person in whom witness is interested; concealment of the witness’s identity by referring to them with a changed name or alias; provision of emergency contact persons for the witness; close protection, including ( physical personal security and bodyguard, regular patrolling or stationing of a PCR van around the house, workplace of the witness, his family members or any person in whom the witness is interested.
The witness protection measures also includes temporary change of residence to a relative’s house or a nearby town/city; escort to and from the Court including provision of a government vehicle or state-funded conveyance on the date of hearing; holding of in-camera trials; allowing the recording of the witness’s statement and deposition via audio-video electronic means from a place, including his or her abode or a designated place, to ensure the best safety and security; allowing a support person to remain present during the recording of the statement and deposition; use of specially designed vulnerable witness courtrooms equipped with facilities such as evidence through audio-video electronic means, one-way mirrors, screens, and separate passages for witnesses and the accused. There will also be an option to modify the witness’s facial image and audio feed to prevent identification.; ensuring the expeditious recording of depositions during the trial on a day-to-day basis without adjournments; providing appropriate periodical financial assistance to the witness from the witness protection fund for relocation, sustenance, or starting a new vocation or profession, as deemed necessary and any other protection measures that the administrative department may consider appropriate for the purpose of this scheme.
The witness protection measures will be proportionate to the level of threat and will be provided for a specific duration, not exceeding three months at a time.
All hearings related to witness protection applications will be held in-camera by the competent authority, ensuring full confidentiality
An application for seeking a protection order under this scheme will have to be filed before the competent authority through its Member Secretary, where the offence is committed. The application should be accompanied by authentic identification proof and any other supporting documents in support of his request. Upon receiving an application, the Member Secretary will promptly call for a threat analysis report from the Deputy Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police concerned, to be submitted within two working days. Depending on the urgency of the matter, due to an imminent threat, the competent authority may issue orders for the interim protection of the witness, his family members, or any person in whom the witness is interested, during the pendency of the application. The threat analysis report will be prepared expeditiously while maintaining full confidentiality and will be submitted to the competent authority within five working days of receiving the order. In processing the application for witness protection, the competent authority will also interact with the witness, their family members, any person in whom the witness is interested, employers, or other relevant individuals, either in person or via audio-video electronic means, to assess the witness’s protection needs.
All hearings related to witness protection applications will be held in-camera by the competent authority, ensuring full confidentiality. The application will be disposed of within five working days of receiving the threat analysis report from the police authorities. The witness protection order issued by the competent authority will be implemented by the Witness Protection Cell or the Trial Court. The overall responsibility for implementing all witness protection orders passed by the competent authority will rest with the Director General of Police. However, witness protection orders involving changes of identity and/or relocation, as provided in clauses 12 and 13 of the Scheme, will be implemented by the Administrative Department.
A Witness Protection Cell will be established in each district, headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police of the concerned district. The primary responsibility of the Witness Protection Cell will be to implement witness protection orders issued by the competent authority.
During the hearing of the application, the identity of the witness will not be disclosed to any other person
During the hearing of the application, the identity of the witness will not be disclosed to any other person, which is likely to lead to the identification of the witness. The competent authority will then dispose of the application based on the available material on record. Once an order for the protection of a witness’s identity is issued by the competent authority, it will be the responsibility of the Witness Protection Cell to ensure the full protection of the witness’s identity, including the names, parentage, occupation, address, digital footprints, and other identifying details of the witness, their family members, or any person in whom the witness is interested.
The Authority may grant witness a new identity and issue an order for the relocation based on the threat analysis report
In cases where a witness requests a change of identity, and based on the threat analysis report, the competent authority may decide to grant the witness a new identity. This may include a new name, profession, or parentage, along with providing supporting documents that are acceptable to government agencies. The new identity will not deprive the witness of their existing educational, professional, or property rights. Similarly, in cases where a witness requests relocation, and based on the threat analysis report, the competent authority may decide to grant the request. The competent authority may issue an order for the relocation of the witness to a safe location within the State or any part of the Indian Union, considering the safety, welfare, and well-being of the witness, their family members, or any person in whom the witness is interested. The expenses will be covered by the witness protection fund or, if the witness agrees in writing, by the witness themselves.
Haryana CM pushes for policy reforms to boost industrial investment
Proactive steps should be taken to attract global investments – Nayab Singh Saini
Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini has directed officials to take all possible measures to ensure significant investment across various sectors in the state. He stressed the need for revising existing policies, where needed, to maximize industrial growth, which will not only attract maximum investments but also also foster job creation.
The Chief Minister was presiding over a meeting of the Industries and Commerce Department here late last evening.
He said that Haryana has already planned to establish 10 ultra-modern industrial townships across the state, modeled on the success of IMT Kharkhoda. He said that proactive steps should be taken to facilitate the establishment of industries and attract global investment. In this regard, he proposed the creation of an ultra-modern IT Park in Haryana, along with special incentives for both industries and MSMEs to make the state a more attractive destination for investment.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the steps taken by the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi to boost manufacturing and promote MSMEs across the country. With Haryana’s strategic proximity to the National Capital and its robust infrastructure, the state is well-positioned to cultivate an economic ecosystem that attracts global enterprises. In addition, Indian who are living abroad are also keen in establishing venture in Haryana that will also provide a further opportunity for economic growth. The Industries Department and Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) should get in touch such entrepreneurs and facilitating their investments in the state. He stressed that these initiatives should be goal-oriented to ensure timely implementation and results.
In a separate meeting, the Chief Minister also directed officials to focus on attracting Aerospace and Defense investments to the state. Haryana has framed an Aerospace and Defense Investment Policy with the aim of establishing the state as a national aerospace and defense hub. The state is targeting an investment of 1 billion USD in the next five years in this sector.
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Arun Kumar Gupta, ACS Vijayendra Kumar, Principal Secretary Industries Department D. Suresh, Principal Secretary Civil Aviation Department Shyamal Mishra, Principal Secretary Labour Department Rajeev Ranjan, OSD to CM Raj Nehru, and other senior officers.
Now Potato-Producing farmers in Haryana to benefit from Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana
Haryana Government stands firm in support of farmers
Over Rs 110 Crore assistance provided to 24,385 farmers under Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana
Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana benefits farmers of 21 Horticultural Crops
Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, reaffirming his dedication to addressing the concerns of farmers and ensuring they receive the necessary support, has announced that potato-producing farmers in the state will now benefit from the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana. This decision highlights the government’s commitment to standing by the farmers and assisting them in every possible way. Agriculture and farmer welfare remain central to the government’s policies.
Sharing this information here today, an official spokesperson informed that the outstanding amount of Rs 46.34 crore for the year 2023-24 has been successfully disbursed to the farmers under the scheme. In addition, farmers have been advised that if potato prices fall, they should consider storing their crops in cold storage to safeguard their produce and income.
Over Rs 110 Crore assistance provided to 24,385 farmers under Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana
It is noteworthy that the Haryana government introduced the Bhavantar Bharpai scheme, a unique initiative aimed at making farmers in the state risk-free. The primary objective of this scheme is to protect farmers from financial losses due to a decline in selling prices at the mandis. A total of 21 horticultural crops are covered under the scheme, including 5 fruit crops, 14 vegetable crops, and 2 spice crops.
Under this scheme, a protected price is set based on the production cost of horticultural crops. If the market prices of these crops fall below the protected price during sale at the mandis, the difference between the protected price and the selling price is compensated to farmers as incentive assistance. Since its launch, 3,15,614 farmers have registered a total of 7,02,220 acres of land under the scheme, with over Rs 110 crore in assistance provided to 24,385 farmers.
To avail of the benefits, farmers must register their crops on the “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” portal, which is then verified by the Horticulture Department. A gate pass is issued when the crop is taken to market, and a J Form is provided based on this. Landowners, lessees, and tenants are also eligible to benefit from this scheme.
Haryana government is making efforts for the welfare of village chowkidars – Additional Principal Secretary Dr. Saket Kumar
Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister of Haryana, Dr. Saket Kumar said that the state government is committed to the welfare of village chowkidars. He said that the monthly remuneration of chowkidars has been increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 11,000. Furthermore, the government is working on issuing identity cards for chowkidars to ensure they do not face any inconvenience while performing their duties.
Dr Saket Kumar was chairing a meeting with the representatives of the Gramin Chowkidar Sangh, Haryana here today. On this occasion, the chowkidars also submitted their demand letter.
He also assured that the process of filling vacant chowkidar positions will be initiated soon. Currently, there are 7,301 chowkidar posts in the state, of which 4,927 are filled, leaving 2,374 vacant.
During the meeting, the chowkidars told that the portal for recording the death records is not working properly and they are also facing issues related to salary disbursements. On this, Dr. Saket Kumar assured that the state government will address these problems promptly.
![The Gallery at British Council, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, will present "Zaat" by Sonakshi, a powerful sculptural installation that unravels matrilineal memory through the language of heirloom, metal, and meaning. The exhibition runs from 11 June through 31 July 2025 as part of Study UK: Creative Connections II. Born in Agra and now based in London, Sonakshi Chaturvedi brings together her expertise in painting, enamelling, and gemology to question how women's histories are remembered—or systematically erased. The exhibition confronts the inherited roles of bride, mother, and grandmother, foregrounding untold longings encoded within craft traditions of the Indian subcontinent. A Fresh Voice in Contemporary Art Fresh from completing her MA in Jewellery & Metal at the prestigious Royal College of Art (2024), Sonakshi represents a new generation of artists bridging traditional craft with contemporary artistic practice. Her unique background as both a Graduate Gemologist and researcher with Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (Ministry of Culture) positions her with the requisite capabilities to question the cultural significance of adornment and inheritance in South Asian societies. “Zaat began as a way to fortify my own nostalgia, but it evolved into an act of reclamation—tracing heirloom objects that held the silent resistance of women remembered only as mothers, brides, grandmothers. Through sculpture, I archive their matrilineal inheritance as material memory—for future female ancestors to know them not just by the roles they played, but as individuals with dreams, agency, and voice” explains Chaturvedi. Exploring Material Memory The title "Zaat" refers to identity or the core sense of being. Visitors to Zaat will encounter a series of sculptural forms crafted in brass, white metal, cold enamel, resin-based enamel, and gemstones—each inspired by objects from the artist’s grandmother’s wedding trousseau. At first glance, these forms appear worn, metallic, and subdued—echoing the weight of tradition and domestic expectation. But within, they burst into candy-like, psychedelic interiors—revealing a hidden world of colour, desire, and youth. These contrasting surfaces act as metaphors for how generations of women, often remembered only as wives, mothers, or grandmothers, concealed vivid inner lives beneath uniform roles. Zaat transforms these heirloom-inspired forms into vessels of material memory—preserving not just what was passed down, but what was never said. Sonakshi Chaturvedi’s professional experience spans prestigious institutions including The Gem Palace Jaipur, Zoya by TATA, recent internships at Olympia Auctions and the recently commissioned Riverside Studios by Vedanta in London, giving her deep insight into both traditional Indian jewellery-making and contemporary artistic practice. Part of Prestigious Cultural Initiative "Zaat" forms part of the British Council's Best of British series, celebrating UK alumni who are shaping global cultural discourse. The Study UK: Creative Connections II programme highlights the international impact of UK education in fostering artistic innovation and cross-cultural dialogue. Looking Forward Currently pursuing advanced studies in gemology with Gem-A (FGA) while developing her enamelling practice with UK-based artists, Sonakshi plans to pursue doctoral studies to further her artistic practice around cultural and gender identity on a communal level, to contribute to the larger craft based cultural dialogue. Exhibition Details: What: Zaat by Sonakshi Where: The Gallery, British Council, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi When: 11 June – 31 July 2025 Opening Reception: [DATE AND TIME NEEDED] Admission: Free Gallery Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.](https://www.chandigarhcitynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Sonakshi-Presents-Zaat-3-218x150.jpeg?v=1750091374 "Royal College of Art Graduate Sonakshi Presents “Zaat”")
