The urgent need for justice and accountability in our society cannot be overstated. Public safety is not just a legal obligation; it is a fundamental right that must be upheld with urgency and clarity. Any act of crime, whether it is the horrific violence against women, the exploitation of vulnerable citizens, or the unchecked actions of corrupt individuals, demands immediate and decisive action.
Justice delayed is, as we know, justice denied. Justice delayed is not just a failure of the law, but a betrayal of the trust placed in it by the people. In a society where the wheels of justice grind slowly, the victims of crime are forced to bear the weight of a broken system, and the guilty walk free, unchecked. For true justice to prevail, it must not only be swift but also steadfast, impartial, and unwavering in its commitment to the rights of every citizen.
Recent incidents of brutal crimes, particularly the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in West Bengal, have laid bare the deep-seated inefficiencies and insensitivity within India’s justice system. Despite widespread condemnation from the public and the Supreme Court, similar heinous acts continue to occur, highlighting the systemic failure to act swiftly and decisively. The release of offenders on bail or their flight from justice without consequence exacerbates public frustration, as the legal process drags on without resolution, leaving victims and their families in a state of anguish.
This failure is not merely a bureaucratic flaw but an affront to the ideals of fairness, equality, and protection upon which our society is built.
Equally troubling is the growing failure of the judiciary to address critical issues such as gender neutrality in laws governing marital conduct. In a society that once held marriage as sacred, the rise of ‘open marriages’ and increasing instances of adultery undermine families and destroy the lives of innocent individuals. The removal of Section 497 of the IPC in 2018 has only compounded these issues, disproportionately empowering those who commit acts of marital betrayal. Despite this, the judiciary has turned a blind eye to necessary reforms, including the suggestion by the Parliament Standing Committee on Home Affairs to amend the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, to criminalise adultery once more, in a gender-neutral manner. This failure to act, compounded by the judiciary’s inertia, leaves one with a sense of suffocation, as if running a marathon only to end up in the same unresolved place.
Where, then, will the citizens turn? Who will they seek redress from when the very institutions meant to protect them seem distant and inaccessible? The courts, burdened and overrun, offer little solace, leaving the common man entangled in an endless wait for justice—one that tests not only patience but also faith in the system itself. In such despair, can we blame those who find themselves wondering if divine intervention might arrive sooner than a verdict? These questions weigh heavily, for they are not merely rhetorical—they reflect the silent anguish of a people longing for fairness, accountability, and a reason to believe that justice still holds meaning in their lives.
The writer of this piece, perhaps in the final decade of a life full of experience, reflects on the painful truth that no one seems willing to take accountability for their actions. Over time, she has learned that life can change in an instant, and the systems meant to protect us are failing to deliver. This truth weighs heavily on her, as hope and prayer become unreliable anchors in a world increasingly driven by self-interest. Just like this writer, lakhs of citizens across the nation empathise with the pain of such horrific incidents, their hearts heavy with the same hurt and anger. Yet, they are powerless in the face of a system that appears indifferent, their hopes dwindling and their expectations crushed by the cold, sterile bureaucracy that surrounds them.
The most vulnerable in our society—infants, young women, young men, and the elderly—desperately need the judiciary’s urgent attention. Discrimination based on caste, creed, or gender cannot have a place in how justice is dispensed. The justice they long for seems distant, an unreachable ideal, as the machinery of law grinds on, immune to the suffering of those it is meant to protect. Her heart cries out for justice, but that call, like so many others, goes unheard by those in power.
As we look around, we see a society in rapid decline. Lies, greed, and self-interest have overshadowed the fundamental human values that once anchored us. Integrity, empathy, and fairness are increasingly sidelined in favour of personal gain and deceit. The consequences are evident—a desert of grief, where families are torn apart, communities fractured, and trust eroded. This moral decay is not just a present crisis; it is a looming threat to our future. If we do not pause and reflect, and more importantly, act to return to the core principles of justice, compassion, and respect, we risk condemning future generations to a world devoid of the values that make us truly human. There cannot be any room for complacency in matters of life and death, of safety and dignity. But who is listening?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.
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