The criminal jurisprudence system in Bharat (India) today requires overhaul. Daily, we hear tales of heinous crimes — murders, rapes, corruption — and yet justice fails to be administered or gets deferred. This is one major cause of people disillusioning with the legal system. Unless justice becomes swift and tough, it empowers criminals and demoralizes law-abiding citizens.
The reality is that our criminal legislation was predominantly enacted under British rule. Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) are cumbersome and slow. The system cares less about lengthy procedures than it does about safeguarding victims and punishing the offender. Court proceedings go on for years. Undertrial prisoners languish in jail for decades without a verdict. Victims must go through never-ending struggles for justice. This is not what a modern, strong Bharat deserves.
We must reboot our criminal jurisprudence system in three main ways. First, we need faster trials. Special fast-track courts for serious crimes must be increased. Judges must be given proper support so they can dispose of cases quickly without compromising fairness. Second, there should be stricter punishments for heinous crimes. Second, when punishment is swift and certain, it is an effective deterrent. Third, victims' rights must be accorded the same importance as the accused's rights. Victims must not just be witnesses but must have significant legal representation and protection.
Technology should also be used more efficiently. Digitalizing court records, conducting hearings through video conferencing, and AI-based management systems for cases can accelerate justice. Police reforms are also required — investigations have to be professional, scientific, and impartial.
Lastly, we need to alter our attitude. Justice does not merely imply punishing the criminals but instilling fear of the law in the minds of criminals. A criminal must hesitate to commit a crime because he is aware that he will be apprehended and punished swiftly.
Bharat is an ascending power on the global stage. But a nation's real strength is reflected in the speed, equity, and potency of its justice system. It is time we abandoned colonial-era laws and created a modern system that is grounded in Indian realities and values — one that safeguards the innocent, punishes the wrongdoer, and regains citizens' trust in justice.
The time to reboot is now.
