Saudi Arabia is among a few countries in the world which believe in the dictum, “Justice delayed is Justice denied.” The country has strict laws that are ruthlessly enforced. Rapists are given the same status as murderers and are awarded capital punishment through a judicial process that is swift and beyond appeal, except in rare cases where victims or their families can grant pardon against some form of compensation.
Voices are now being heard in favour of such a system across India to deal with rapists with speed and efficiency, avoiding lengthy processes, adjournments and delaying tactics.
Not that capital punishment does not exist in India. It is routinely imposed on traitors, terrorists and murderers. Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani national (and the only surviving terrorist of the Mumbai terrorist attack of November 26, 2008), was hanged in a Pune jail on November 21, after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy plea.
The judicial process took almost four years.
There is now a movement calling for enforcement of capital punishment on rapists.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha called for death penalty and chemical castration for those accused of rape.
Announcing a 13-point Action Plan on New Year’s Day, she said that her government would establish ‘Fast Track Mahila (Women’s) Courts’ throughout the State to handle crimes against women.
The maverick, no-nonsense politician, who walked out of the National Development Council Meeting in Delhi two days earlier protesting against limited time allotted to her for outlining the needs of her State, showed signs of intolerance as the country mourned the death of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, succumbing to injuries following gang-rape (read our editorial and related story in this section).
“These Mahila Courts will hold daily hearings of all sexual abuse cases on fast track and all government counsel in such cases will be women. Incidents of sexual assaults will be treated as grave crime and top police officials will deal with them,” she said.
Miss Jayalalitha also ordered an inquiry into all pending cases of sexual abuse and demanded a report within 15 days.
That was not all. She went a step further and asked the federal government to amend the existing statutes to award death penalty and chemical castration to those involved in rapes.
She also issued orders to install close-circuit television sets in all public buildings to identity those who troubled women and deploy plainclothes police personnel at marketplaces and colleges to ensure safety of women.
The government in Delhi should consider these and other recent developments as a wakeup call and take steps to amend the relevant laws, ensuring fast tracking of cases relating to sex offences with deterrent punishment given to those proven guilty.
The people of India are in no mood to listen to long speeches and explanation of leaders of the strenuous process of lawmaking. Opposition parties should also support changes to the laws and enforce them without delay.
It is the criminals and antisocial elements who should live in fear – not the people.
At least one State government has shown the way- others including the Centre, must follow for the good of the people, and for their own good.
