STREET JUSTICE IS NOT BLIND

STREET JUSTICE IS NOT BLIND
In my last topic for discussion “Blessed are the Meek for they will inherit the earth” the consensus seems to be veering around with the view that it had not happened in the past and will not happen in future too.
It appears that the only alternative left to them is to unite and fight for their rightful dues, with violence if necessary. The old saying can possibly modified to read as “meek of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your hunger.”
This brings us to the moot point if we have lost faith in our justice system- social, political and judicial. Will it be fair to say that taking law into ones’ one hand is the only answer? Is it right to violently rebel against oppression, injustice, and inequality so on and so forth? At some point of time most of us have been victim of the system. Are then the criminals, terrorists, mafias, extortionists etc justified in doing what they do because they too in most case are the victim or, so they claim, of all such social, political and judicial malice?
It is often said that Justice is blind. So many innocent have been convicted and equally many culprits have gone scot free. Thousands of prisoners are languishing in jails, awaiting trial, some of them innocent. Some of them are already in jail for a period more than prescribed , if convicted. Thousands are declared absconding. Thousands of cases remain unsolved and files are closed. Thousands of people are convicted for different crimes and start the same again once out of jail. Rich people can twist the arms of justice any which ways they want by hiring the best lawyers, bribing and influencing the system to save their or their relatives’ skin.
Contrary to this, justice on the streets is quick and effective. No one can dare to disobey or double cross the street mafia lords. The punishment is death without trial. The gang wars are not only for supremacy in the trade but for the punishment of the breakaway members. Loyalty is rewarded abundantly but disloyalty is dealt with cruelty to set an example. The punishment is exemplary and not cosmetic. Street justice is close to the justice imparted by old kingly autocratic establishment.
It can be argued that the former is the outcome of an evolving society and the latter is barbaric. If one is a tool in the hands of the civil society the other is a weapon in the hands of the uninitiated barbarians. If one gives full opportunity to defend, the other does not do any such play acting. One believes that let hundred culprits go free rather than convicting an innocent person. The other believes in instant justice once the judge is convinced. In both the cases the judge may go wrong but in former case the judge may hide behind the law but in latter case the judge takes upon himself the onus of fair justice and is not shy of making amends by helping the family of the wronged person financially or otherwise
People take law into their hands many a times because they do not believe the system. Some even take help of street justice. Street justice is mostly imparted by a person who is a judge and a witness at the same time. His dictate prevails. So is the case in present justice system too. Might is right still prevails only the tools have changed that look a bit sophisticated and civilized, more of a disguise of the same age old system of justice. Our justice system of the day is the outcome of continuing evolution of civil society. In many ways it is better than the street justice. Panchayats and Fast courts, Lok Adalats and similar variants have been tried to streamline the system for delivering quick and fair justice but have remained out of reach or ineffective and therefore blind.
Justice delayed is justice denied and justice denied is more criminal than the crime itself. Any system that cannot deliver is either corrupt or simply blind. There is no harm in resorting to street justice. People are taking law into their hands also because they have no mai- baap (Godfather) in the corridors of power. More and more such cases are coming to light.
Street justice is in no way the answer because it is the weapon of the unsatisfied, frustrated and perverted souls but then when it comes to revenge or seeking equitable justice and there is no way out, street justice comes to the rescue and people resort to it unmindful of the repercussions.
Over to you, friends!



.

THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER

Divine Life Society was founded by Swami Sivananda on Jan.13, 1936 at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. I wish to share the Universal Prayer with friends. Swami Sivananda in simple terms taught to “be good and do good”.



THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER

O ADORABLE LORD OF MERCY AND LOVE!
SALUTATIONS AND PROSTRATIONS UNTO THEE.
THOU ART OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT AND OMNISCIENT,
THOU ART SATCHIDANANDA (EXISTENCE-CONSCIOUSNESS-BLISS ABSOLUTE)
THOU ART THE INDWELLER OF ALL BEINGS.

GRANT US AN UNDERSTANDING HEART,
EQUAL VISION, BALANCED MIND,
FAITH, DEVOTION AND WISDOM,
GRANT US INNER SPIRITUAL STRENGTH,
TO RESIST TEMTATIONS AND TO CONTROL THE MIND,
FREE US FROM EGOISM, LUST, GREED, HATRED, ANGER AND JEALOUSLY,
FILL OUR HEARTS WITH DIVINE VIRTUES.

LET US BEHOLD THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US SERVE THEE IN ALL THESE NAMES AND FORMS,
LET US EVER REMEMBER THEE,
LET US EVER SING THY GLORIES
LET THY NAME BE EVER ON OUR LIPS,
LET US ABIDE IN THEE FOR EVER AND EVER.

I hope you will like it. Please visit www.sivanandaonline.org for more details.

Hari Lakhera, Delhi, Feb 4, 2011

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

Nor angel I, nor man, nor brute,
Nor body, mind, nor he or she,
The books do stop in wonder mute
To tell my nature, I am He.

Before the sun, the moon, the earth,
Before the stars or comet free,
Before even time has had its birth,
I was, I am and I will be.

Not two or many, ’tis but one,
And thus in me all me’s I have,
I cannot hate, I cannot shun
Myself from me, I can but love.

From dreams awake, from bonds be free,
Be not afraid. This mystery,
My shadow, cannot frighten me,
Know once for all that I am He.


Source: Swami Vivekananda, On Himself (The complete works of Swami Vivekananda)