Yet another blog for me. But it has special significance as I am again forced to write about the increasing violence against our mothers and sisters in India. A few months ago, I had written a blog about the infamous rape and murder of Sowmya by a hooligan. I always prayed that I should again be forced to deal with the subject. Yet again another rape has taken place, this time in our national capital region. What has hurt me the most is the sheer brutality with which the girl was raped and treated later including insertion of rods?I keep wondering what type of animals can do such a thing to a young girl?An animal who does not have any remorse or humane feelings? What is happening to our country where lawlessness are growing day in and day out. Corruption, violence has become part of our lives. Criminals has a field day and the law increasingly seems to be helpless and ineffective in doing anything to stop such atrocities.
As a lawyer, I see hundreds of criminal cases everyday. It becomes part of my duty to interact with the criminals and fight their causes. Everybody asks me whether I feel any remorse or guilt in fighting for criminals? My answer has always been that not all the persons who come to court are hardened criminals. Everybody gets involved in cases mainly due to circumstances. Hence it is just and necessary to fight their cases and bring justice to them. But once in a while, a case comes up that shake our conscience. Those cases like the Sowmya murder case and the present Delhi group rape case steer our conscience.
In such a situation, I keep asking the same question; what is happening to India? Is it the failure of the system to deliver justice? In many cases, my experience tells me that in recent years, there has been a trend wherein people are getting less afraid of the law and legal sanctions. If we analyse crime rates in say Singapore or gulf countries, we find that those countries see that justice is done come what may. There are no political interference and Police are free to do their job. Also the courts see to it that the justice is meted out to the guilty. Now coming to the Indian context, in many cases, we find that during trial, all witnesses turns hostile and thus the Accused escapes. Further all evidence that the police collect is not above suspension. There need to be a total revamp of the system. What we generally follow are the colonial procedures that has in many cases failed to keep up with the times. For eg, Indian police is notorious for it's torture. This is largely because the police of present day still follows the system that was made by the British for suppressing the Indians. After independence, this system never changed. More so as politicians would arm twist the police for their own ends. This includes arbitrary transfers and other forms of "coextensive" methods. This has over the years eroded the credibility of the police and has also made them ineffective. A total revamp of the entire institution is take place if we want India to serve justice. We as the generation has top take the initiative. We have to insure hat the police is free from all types to pressures and the investigation that they do is above suspension. Criminal elements needs to be weeded out from the system. Now many may ask, is it possible or can this happen in India? I believe it can and need to happen if as a nation, we need to redeem ourselves. It is as Indians our prime duty. lest time will never forgive us. May justice prevail and the guilty be punished in the Delhi group rape case with the sentence that they deserve.
Vante Mathram.
Vante Mathram.
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