Kathmandu, Sakshi lai surakshya ra bato kharcha upalabdha garauna sarbochha ko aadesh. November 17, The Supreme Court has issued a directive order in the name of the government to provide witnesses in criminal cases with safety and travel allowances. According to Baburam Dahal, Joint-spokesperson of Supreme Court, a joint bench of Justices Gopal Parajuli and Cholendra Shumsher Rana on November 16 ordered the government to provide safety and travel cost to the witnesses testifying in criminal cases. The apex court decision comes as a response to the writ filed by advocate Debaki Pokharel on July 9, 2013 demanding safety and travel cost to witnesses of victim sides in cases of violence against women. The bench has also asked the government to further define provisions of witness protection as provided by the Government Cases Rules 2055 (1999) and keep record of the distribution of allowances to what nature of witnesses and in which cases. Likewise, the court has also ordered to mention the distributed amount in court record (misil) in order to make the distribution process transparent. The government following the apex court directive order has to provide 350 rupees daily allowance and 150 rupees travel allowance to witnesses. Joint-spokesperson Dahal said that the distributed amount has to be audited through the Office of the Attorney General and the Supreme Court has ordered to prioritize distribution of such allowance to women witnesses in cases of violence against women.