A few days ago, a friend posted the following joke in one the WhatsApp groups to which I belong.
“A 75 year old man was punished by an Indian court for teasing a girl.
While delivering the judgement, the Judge said “I can understand a 25 year old man teasing a girl but, a 75 year old man doing this is not acceptable.”
The old man said “I did this when I was 25, the case has taken so long to come to this stage of final hearing and verdict.”
The Guardian on Sunday 26, January had an article with the leader “Crime victims say they feel ‘let down’ by the courts and police as new data reveals rising numbers are failing to press charges.”
A few more jokes to cheer my readers up before I come to my take on the topic.
Indian courts are understaffed and over worked and so the justice system works too slow for most people with disputes. I have personal experience of such delays on more than a few occasions, one, very personal and the others to do with corporate matters during my working life. The Cooperative Housing Society in which I live is currently involved in a long drawn litigation with one member who has broken all rules of the society but is unwilling to settle otherwise. There are friends who have been in court for decades over property matters that do not seen to ever see conclusions.
Wikipedia has a long list of miscarriage of justice which, to say the least, is shocking.
“Time is the justice that examines all offenders.”
~ Shakespeare in “As You Like It”
This week’s topic for the Two On One Friday Blog Post has been suggested by me. Please do go over to Shackman’s blog to see what he has to say on the matter.
I think here, in Europe, the judicial mills mill faster than in your native India.
My trust in “justice” was shattered some fifteen years or so ago. I had spent a considerable amount of money on a course (to further my earning powers) when – mid way – the owner of the business changed the original contract. To the detriment of the desired outcome. Two of her students (I was one of them) refused to accept and opted out, dropping the course and withholding the last instalment of the course fee. She took both of us to court. So far so nothing. Some people will be small minded – so I have learnt over the course of my life so far.
My court date was first, my witness the other defendant. It’s rare that someone dislikes me. Not least on first sight. But it was obvious, to everyone, from the word go. I had barely opened my mouth when it was clear that the judge had a glint in his eye. I was condemned not only to pay the outstanding fee but court fines too. OK. No big deal. That’s life.
However, enter court date of “offender” number two (my witness), a couple of weeks later. Now I am HER witness. Different court, neighbouring city. And what do you know. The guy (judge) was the SAME. As it was my sister in arms got off scott-free. It shook us. A little. My sister in arms more than me. How is it possible that the same scenario can be “judged” (by the same judge) with two opposing outcomes?
U
Yes, they are but, there have been exceptions there too. Coming to your personal experience, you should read this book. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/30/business/malcolm-gladwell-talking-to-strangers.html
I am consistently appalled at how victims of abuse are treated in court. Particularly when the predator is wealthy.
Enough said.
XO
WWW
That happens a lot here too in cross examinations and many lives have been ruined by such callousness.
As I said in my blog, Justiceis very fluid, not static though agtimes it may seem so. And the topic of faoirness rarely seems to matter, even though it is central to all jutice related isues. This is a topic that could easi;y fill 4 0or 5 weks of our little blogs – good choice.
Thank you Shackman. I am still digesting your rather longish post and shall comment on it shortly.