PTI
 
New Delhi, Mar 26: Hostile witnesses and lack of proper application of law by the authorities concerned are responsible for low rate of conviction, Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal has said.

"Witnesses turn hostile during trial and lack of proper application by concerned authorities are among others the few causes for high rate of acquittals," Justice Sabharwal said in his keynote address at the national seminar on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances here yesterday.

This is the second time in a fortnight that the CJI has talked about hostile witness menace which has become a topic of debate following acquittal of all the accused in the Jessica Lall murder case. Earlier, he had on March 11 said it was not a new phenomenon.

Complaining that the criminal justice delivery system was already under immense pressure and needed better support, the CJI said "...Justice can be delivered only when there is total support by an effective and efficient investigation and administration." "The situation needs remedial measures at once so that rule of law and effectiveness of the criminal justice delivery system are not only maintained but improved," he said.

"The rate of acquittals is a matter of great concern as it elucidates the gap between the investigation and the law," he said.