Criminal Justice System works like Punishment in Itself - SC

In its ruling on a criminal appeal that was filed 13 years ago, the Supreme Court observed that our country's criminal justice system "may itself be a punishment."

Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka's bench made this observation after noting that a case involving the framing of charges had been on appeal in the Supreme Court for 13 years.

The issue before the court included a student who took his own life after being subjected to disciplinary action by the school administration. According to the accusation made by the student's father claiming they were responsible for the suicide, a charge sheet was filed against the teacher, the department head, and the principal. In 2009, the Trial Court formally filed charges against the defendant.

The High Court dismissed the accused's criminal revision petition, noting that the procedures were in their early stages and did not require interference. Thus, the accused went to the Supreme Court, which in 2009 granted a temporary stay.

"The current appeals were prioritized as a response to that order, and a preliminary stay was granted. In light of this Court's stay, the trial did not, of course, continue. For the past thirteen years, that has been the state of the situation "In the ruling dismissing the appeal after 13 years, the bench made this observation.

The bench introduced the order by saying the following: "Our country's judicial system can be used as punishment in and of itself! In this instance, it has exactly taken place. 14 years on the matter of aiding suicide in an incident where a student was disciplined for misconduct in the College and on trying to take disciplinary action and summon the father, albeit the parent did not show up and the child subsequently committed himself. regrettable circumstance"

The bench thought about the appeal and stated that, even after reading the charge sheet, there is still no proof of aiding suicide based on the current complaint. Finally, the accused was released after the appeal was accepted. This report deals with this aspect of the order.

V.P. Singh vs State of Punjab