Justice Delayed = Justice Denied!

The last two day headlines in all the capital city newspapers kept me reminding two existing facts, post six decades of India’s Independence.

1. Innocent/the helpless people are always easy victims to the greed and desire of the rich and the mighty.

2. The rich and the mighty still can be brought under knees, thanks to the Indian democracy, aka the David and the Goliath Style.

Here, this time the victim has been an innocent 14 year young Ruchika, a budding tennis player and the rich and the mighty, a well-educated IPS officer, holding a high moral and responsible position in the society as State IG. Poor Ruchika after three years post-her incident, commits suicide, thanks to the rich and mighty officer’s various power tactics. Ruchika’s friend’s parents take up the case to the court of law, which is blinded for 19 long years. And, the verdict finally comes after 19 long years, with a simple 6 months jail term for the well-educated officer, thanks to his advocate wife, who fought courageously to save her criminal husband.

As I post this blog, swallowing words, controlling my anger and disappointments, I am also able to feel a sarcastic smile spread across my lips. At last, the poor girl got some justice.

Three major questions arise at this mid-night hour in my mind:

a. Should we be happy about this Justice?
b. Should we appreciate a delayed Justice (agreed, though worth, even delayed)?
c. When will the rich and the mighty stop their game of greed and desire that dangerously play with the lives of innocent people?


The quick answers that comes to my mind at this hour is,

a. Should we be happy about this Justice?

Yes. We should be proud that after 19 long years, we are able to convict a criminal. That is what Justice is. It is a testimony that it is still working in our country. Our democracy is a functioning one. It makes me feel happy.


b. Should we appreciate a delayed Justice (agreed, though worth,but, having been delayed)?

Justice at any remote hour received, needs to be appreciated, but, we need to change the way we will welcome a justice in future. A delayed justice is equal to a denied justice. The societal consequences are huge and manifold. People may stop approaching the Department of Justice. Courts of law will become courtyards for the rich and the mighty to play their dirty games. So, rather feeling a sense of appreciation, we should move ahead to ensure speedy trials and fair settlement of appeals with a sense of urgency in future.


c. When will the rich and the mighty stop their game of greed and desire that dangerously play with the lives of innocent people?

Shame on us, witnessing the brutal killing of the basic tenets of a democratic society, scoundrels and rascals in the disguise of rich and the most educated people, the wolf in the human clothing…am extremely sorry to have used these hard words, but, then, it disappoints me to say that we still live in the stone age.

I think and feel proud about my father at this hour, an advocate, who use his knowledge and power to fight for the innocent and helpless people in the court of law in my hometown; I feel proud of one such advocate, Shri Pankaj Bhardwaj, who has got Ruchika’s guardians, Shri Anand and Shrimati Madhu Parkash, the delayed Justice.

But, going back to answer the question I have raised, am sorry again. Even the God, the creator of both the victim and the rascal, will not be able to take a guess, when the rich and the mighty will stop their dirty games. I would like to live pragmatically, but, not going down without fighting for Justice. But, let me make the statement again –Justice delayed is equal to Justice denied.