‘A Witness Cannot Be Just a Name in a Case File’: DK Shivakumar Backs Scrutiny of Stock Witnesses, Warns Against Media Trials
Bengaluru: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday called for closer scrutiny of the use of stock witnesses in criminal cases, saying the credibility of a witness is central to the justice system and that repeated appearance of the same person as a witness in multiple cases can raise legitimate questions.
Speaking at the valedictory programme of the South Zone Consultation of Stock Witnesses Reforms Committee 2026 at the Karnataka Judicial Academy in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the state would examine why a Stock Witness Reforms Committee was necessary and expressed confidence that Karnataka could take the lead in this area as well.
“There is nothing wrong if someone is a witness in more than one case. But if the same person appears as a witness in several cases, fair questions will be asked,” Shivakumar said. He added that if a person was genuinely a witness, the course of investigation could be different.
“A witness is not merely a name in a case file; they become part of the record,” he said, underlining the importance of credibility in the judicial process.
Shivakumar framed the issue within the larger responsibility of delivering justice to ordinary citizens. When people approach a government office or knock on the doors of a court, they do so with a sense that they are seeking relief from the highest authority, he said, stressing that ensuring justice to people was crucial.
The Chief Minister said modern technology had made investigation easier than in the past, but warned that the digital era required both vigilance and balance while finding solutions. Witness credibility, he said, remained particularly important despite technological advances in investigation.
He assured the Stock Witness Reforms Committee of the Karnataka government’s full support. Representatives from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and other states had participated and shared their experiences, he said.
Shivakumar also referred to Karnataka’s justice delivery system, saying a recent rape case in which a Karnataka court delivered justice within two years had drawn appreciation across the country.
He described the quality of Karnataka’s executive and judiciary as strong and pointed to the presence of the National Law University in Bengaluru, where students from across the country come to study.
In another part of his address, Shivakumar cautioned institutions against being influenced by media-driven narratives. He said the legislature and judiciary in Karnataka function in close proximity and referred to the legislature, executive, judiciary and media as the four pillars of democracy that keep watch on one another.
If the legislature makes mistakes, the executive provides guidance, and when the three institutional pillars err, the media points out those mistakes, he said. However, Shivakumar said sections of the media were increasingly conducting what resembled judicial proceedings and shaping public opinion.
He advised that decision-makers should not come under such influence, effectively warning against media trials affecting institutional processes.
Shivakumar stressed that judicial independence must be respected. Although the powers of the legislature, executive and judiciary are separated under the Constitution, all institutions carry a responsibility to protect the Constitution, he said.
Judicial independence, he said, was not merely a constitutional formality but a necessity for protecting the Constitution. He said the judiciary’s independence should be respected and maintained its importance in relation to the legislature and executive.
Calling for institutional cooperation, Shivakumar said that although different institutions had distinct roles, they must work together for public welfare. Maintaining law and order and protecting people’s rights were serious responsibilities shared by institutions, he said.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the growing use of artificial intelligence in the judiciary and said working together had become increasingly necessary. He expressed hope that the deliberations of the Stock Witness Reforms Committee would create new pathways to ensure that justice ultimately prevailed.
Reflecting on his own public life, Shivakumar said he had been elected to the Legislative Assembly for eight consecutive terms and had spent a long period in public service. He said he became a graduate at the age of 47 and had come to understand the power of knowledge and education through experience.
“Human beings have boundaries, but knowledge has no boundaries,” he said. Shivakumar said the range of knowledge possessed by judges was extensive and added that he continued to learn from officials as well. Experience, he said, played an important role when decisions had to be made.
He concluded by reiterating that institutions occupying positions from which justice is delivered must ensure that injustice does not arise from those very positions, and expressed hope that the consultation would contribute to reforms that strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
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