The role of the victim in the Indian criminal justice system

The plight of victims of crimes has always been of interest to society. This is evidenced by the importance given to the victim by the media, which attempts to highlight the trauma that the victim suffers, sensationalizing the same in the process. However, when one examines the role of the victim in the criminal justice system, especially in countries that follow the adversarial system, it appears that the society seeks to sympathize with the victim, but does not consider it important enough to give the victim a role in the prosecution of the crime committed against him or her. It is in this context that examining the role of the victim in the criminal justice system becomes relevant, especially in a country like India, which prides itself on the fact that its Constitution embodies a plethora of rights, most of which are accused-centric.