Ruchika Girhotra - Another Victim

The by now infamous case Ruchika Girhotra Case has all the trappings of Jessica Lall Murder Case. The verdict after nineteen long years has admittedly raised several eyebrows. Nevertheless, the debate as usual is getting murkier day by day. The critics have been justifiably lambasting the justice delivery system in India for inordinate delays and the less satisfactory rate of judgements. The Social Activism is making the scenario more nebulous and confounded. Most of the critics have missed the woods for the forest. There is no denying that the Justice Delivery Mechanism in India is far from satisfactory. But then, can we mistake only the judiciary? The main culprit as usual is the Indian Police, which plays havoc with the system through its shoddy and half-hearted jobs. The process of investigations and the crime reporting including Charge-sheeting by the Indian Police leave much to be desired. In the instant case as well, the accused seems to have received unintended or intended benefits of doubts while charges were slapped on him under less serious sections of the IPC. The courts very often do not interfere with the charges and a fair trial is extended to the accused. The courts can deliver justice only on the basis of the court proceedings before it and not on the basis of assumptions and hearsay or press reports. Therefore, what is to be addressed in the country is the way Indian Police has been investigating and filing Charge Sheets. A Jessica Lall Case or Ruchika Girhotra Case- which are already high profile cases primarily thanks to the Social Activism- is only a tip of the ice-berg and travesty of justice due to the unprofessionalism of the Indian Police and not because of the Indian Courts which is one of the best justice Administration System in the world even with the pitfalls.