Witness Against Himself!

Narco analysis is the topic which is commonly debated when it comes to self-incrimination. Our constitution states that ‘a person cannot be made witness against himself’. This statement forces our judiciary to consider narco analysis statement as an inadmissible evidence. This can be considered as a scientific approach of revealing truth from the accused. Through narco analysis, the inhibition within the subject is lowered using the prescribed drugs which helps the individual to open up. Some do consider it as a violation of human rights while for others, it’s an advanced method of solving a case. Major leads can be found in a case through this analysis.

Now, the question is, “Can police use DDT to extract information from the question?” There are those who support the view that these measures also benefit the enforcement agencies but others condemn it as a direct violation of constitutional protections in this era of ever-increasing crime rates. This point of view discusses the opinions of the previous court, the recent judgment of the Supreme Court and the theoretical basis of the DDT. ‘A person cannot be made witness against himself’, in such a scenario should we consider a person’s confession of his crime unconstitutional, because he just became witness of his own crime. In this era where ‘third degree torture’ is used by the police, is it unconstitutional to go for a narco test? People make it unconstitutional on the ground that it is a protection against such compulsion resulting in his giving evidence against himself. The debate goes on, why is it wrong when a person gives evidence against himself? The ultimate goal in solving a case is to give justice to the one who deserves. When the police uses ‘third degree torture’ even on the ones who is not guilty, why do people find it wrong in going for the test. The era has come where we should stop relying on mere words of the constitution, because it was made to improvise and have a safe life for the citizens and not to save the guilty ones.