The amendment says that witnesses who backtrack will have to face trial and could face a maximum of two years imprisonment.

Moreover, the statement of witnesses will be video-recorded.

But K K Sood, former additional solicitor general, feels this would not help much.

"When a witness can retract from statements given under section 164 of CrPC (recorded by magistrate), then he or she can also deny the recorded version as well. Merely recording will not serve any purpose," said Sood.

Sood feels that before recording their statement in the court, witnesses should be grilled by the investigating agency, which would act as a deterrent to them turning hostile in court later.

Another proposal is for video-conferencing and camera recording during trial, especially rape cases.

The CrPC has been amended nine times since it was enacted in 1973.

The report also suggests that the central and state governments allocate special funds for compensation of rape victims and deposit them in court under the victim compensation scheme.