Justice Loses Character When it Becomes Revenge: CJI Bobde

His statements come a day after all four accused in the Hyderabad rape and murder case were killed in an encounter.

Chief Justice SA Bobde

(Photo: The Quint)

Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, on Saturday, 7 December, said recent events in the country had sparked an old debate with new vigour, where there was no doubt that the criminal justice system must reconsider its position and attitude towards the time it took to dispose of a criminal matter.

His statements come a day after all four accused in the rape and murder of a veterinary doctor in Hyderabad were shot dead by police in an encounter in the wee hours of Friday.

“Justice is never ought to be instant. Justice must never ever take the form of revenge. I believe justice loses its character when it becomes revenge. There is a need in the judiciary to invoke self-correcting measures but whether or not they should be publicised is a matter of debate.”

SA Bobde, Chief Justice of India

"We have to devise methods for not only speeding up litigation but all together preventing it. There are laws which provide for pre-litigation mediation," he said, adding that there was a need to consider compulsory pre-litigation mediation.

Surprisingly, no courses were available for conferring a degree or diploma in mediation, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)