Justice is not about ‘teaching someone a lesson’

Context

Chhattisgarh HC judgment (custodial death of a Dalit man).
Trial Court: Convicted 4 police officers of murder (Sec 302 IPC).
HC: Reduced conviction to culpable homicide (Sec 304 IPC) citing lack of intent to kill but knowledge of likely death.
Court’s remark: Police tried to “teach a lesson” → sparked debate on state violence, constitutional morality, and caste justice.

Key Issues Raised

Judicial Language & Legitimisation of Violence
- “Teaching a lesson” suggests disciplinary rationale for brutality.
- Risk: Normalises custodial torture as excessive zeal, not criminality.
- Undermines constitutional values of proportionality, dignity & due process.
Custodial Violence in India
- Persistent despite SC guidelines:
  - D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal (1997) → safeguards during arrest.
  - Munshi Singh Gautam vs State of MP (2005) → strict limits on police force.
- Custodial deaths disproportionately affect Dalits, Adivasis, poor.
- NCRB data → ~1,500+ custodial deaths annually; very low convictions.
Caste Dimension Ignored
- Victim: Dalit, perpetrators: upper caste police officers.
- Trial Court acquitted accused under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
- HC did not interfere → demanded explicit proof of caste motive.
- Problem: Courts interpret narrowly, ignoring structural caste power.
- Dalit victimisation in custody often systemic, not incidental.
Institutional Accountability Deficit
- Investigations often by same police force.
- Weak enforcement of safeguards, lack of independent oversight.
- Judiciary risks legitimising authoritarian tendencies by softening language.

Way Forward

Judicial Integrity
- Courts must avoid language that morally shelters state violence.
- Reaffirm that custodial violence = crime, not correction.
Strengthening SC/ST Act Implementation
- Broader interpretation → recognise structural caste discrimination.
- Shift from requiring overt caste slurs → acknowledge caste-coded enforcement.
Independent Accountability
- Independent agencies to probe custodial deaths.
- Police reforms (as per Prakash Singh case, 2006).
Strict Enforcement of Safeguards
- Mandatory CCTV in police stations (per SC directions).
- Medical checks + reporting to Magistrates.
Cultural & Institutional Change
- Training police in human rights, constitutional values.
- Zero tolerance for “lesson-teaching” mindset.