- It’s a matter of great conjecture, perception, and acceptance among the Indian people that the justice delivery system in the country proceeds at a snail’s pace, sometimes meandering along for years on. Several instances of people awaiting a lifetime seeking justice are the norm rather than the exception need no further elaboration. Reams and reams have been written about how the Indian justice delivery system continues to heap miseries on millions of people patiently awaiting to be heard while seeking relief. Little wonder, millions of undertrials are languishing in the country’s various jails for want of the speedy delivery of justice. Despite the higher judiciary led by the Supreme Court initiating concerted efforts, speedy delivery is still a distant dream for many.
PC: Mid-day
- However, one of the recent high-profile cases involving no less than the grandson of a former Prime Minister, Deve Gowda, made headlines for the speedy conclusion and conviction. The instance case pertains to former JDS parliamentarian Prajwal Revanna, whose conviction in less than a year in one of four cases of sexual abuse and rape is a rare and welcome glimpse of how justice should ideally work. For the uninitiated, Prajwal is accused of multiple rapes and recording his own crimes. Explicit videos surfaced in pen drives ahead of the Lok Sabha polls last year, including clips, photos, and screenshots. Troublingly, all the victims could be identified by locals who saw those obscene videos in all their voyeuristic details.
PC: The Hindu
- Disgustingly, the police estimated about 100 women had been abused – house help, staff, party, and government workers. Family clout ensured silence. Prajwal’s first reaction was exactly how powerful, entitled abusers respond: allege political conspiracy, bully media, get gag orders, and go scarce. Obnoxiously, Prajwal’s parents even kidnapped a victim. Prajwal initially chose Germany to lie low, no doubt assured the triad of privilege – politicians, police, and lower judicial staff – would take care of the matter using bribery, coercion, threats, and intimidation. Thankfully, huge public uproar, political opponents, and multiple victims kept up the pressure, resulting in the speedy delivery of justice. Why should similar alacrity not apply to all high-profile cases?
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PC: Business Standard
- Notably, Deve Gowda drawing a red line by telling Prajwal to return immediately and subject himself to the legal process without testing his patience acted as a decisive catalyst. Thus, Gowda’s sanction certainly played a part in ensuring no political interference in the probe. Investigation was by the book, no evidence was botched up, and the prosecution was on point. The swift trial and conviction simply go to show that, minus political protection and privilege, and with police given a free hand, victims, especially of sexual assault, may get a stab at justice. Despite public outrage, it took the Supreme Court’s intervention to file an FIR against Brij Bhushan. That case is cold now. Sadly, it sends a chilling message of powerful personalities having it easy.
 for sexual abuse in less than a year represents a rare example of speedy justice. The case demonstrates that when political protection and privilege are removed, and proper investigation procedures are followed without interference, victims of sexual assault can receive timely justice, contrasting sharply with the usual years-long delays that plague the Indian judicial system.){kind=link}