Justice loses character when it becomes 'revenge': CJI

In the wake of the rape-cum-murder of a veterinarian and the subsequent killing of the four accused in an alleged encounter in Hyderabad, Chief Justice of India S A Bobde on Saturday said justice loses its character when it becomes revenge.

Speaking at an event in Jodhpur, Justice Bobde said, “The criminal justice system in our country must change its attitude towards laxity and the time taken to dispose of each case.” The CJI said recent events had sparked off an old debate with new vigour.

“But I don’t think justice can ever be or ought to be instant, and justice must never ever take the form of revenge. I believe justice loses its character of justice if it becomes revenge,” the CJI said.

Justice Bobde said the judiciary must be aware of the changes and perception about itself and needs to change it, “Judiciary must also invoke self-correcting measures but whether or not they should be publicised needs to be debated,” he said.

Addressing the event, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad urged the CJI and other senior judges to ensure that there is a mechanism to monitor quick disposal of rape cases, saying that the women of the country are under pain and distress and crying for justice.

The Hyderabad incident sparked demands of swift punishment to rape convicts. The news of the ‘encounter’ led to celebrations in some quarters and concern in others.

Justice Bobde said pre-litigation mediation can help reduce the backlog of pending cases in the courts. Making it compulsory could help avoid litigation in one go, he said.