Criminal Justice Administration in India: At Crossroads

Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh organized Mehr Chand Mahajan Memorial Lectures on 10^th and 11^th March, 2014. Prof. Ranbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, National Law University, Delhi delivered the lectures in the Mehar Chand Memorial Lectures Series. Prof. Nishtha Jaswal, Chairperson, Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh welcomed all the guests. The lecture was presided over by Prof. Arun Kumar Grover, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Mrs. Sneh Mahajan, Former Principal, MCM DAV College, Mr. G.K. Chatrath, Former Dean, Law Faculty, Panjab University, Prof. (Emeritus) V.K. Bansal were the guests of honour. Prof. Ranbir Singh delivered the lecture on the topic of “Criminal Justice Administration in India: At Crossroads” on 10^th March, 2014. He introduced the topic with the Charles Dicken’s quote “It was the best of times, it was worst time of times, it was age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredibility, it was the season of light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we all are going direct to heaven, we are all going direct the other way . . . .”. He emphasized that the doctrine of criminal justice system i.e. to prove beyond reasonable doubt, has created a chaotic situation resulting into the strongest impediment in the way of criminal justice delivery system. He opened the annals of history to highlight the fact that there is no change in the situation of criminal justice system. He pointed out various flaws which have contributed towards the failure of the existing criminal justice system i.e. police investigation system, role of prosecuters, delay, corruption, witnesses’ credibility, pendency of cases and so on. While delivering his lecture he analysed various judgments delivered by the Apex Court and also discussed the Criminal Amendment Act, 2013. While concluding his lecture he quoted George Bernard Shaw, “The plain working truth is that it is not only good for people to be shocked occasionally but absolutely necessary to the progress of society that they should be shocked pretty often”. He further highlighted the fact that crime prevention is not the onerous duty of the police only but every citizen is responsible for the same. He concluded by saying “sincerity and integrity are better than expediency”.