Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied
“She wasn’t looking for the knight, she was looking for the sword.”
On 16th December 2012, the most brutal and diabolic atrocity was committed by six men in Delhi. Jyoti was gruesomely raped by a gang of six men on a moving bus. Out of the 6 men arrested — one died in custody, one was a juvenile who was sent to a reformatory for three years, and the remaining four convicts were awarded death sentence by the trial court. The decision was eventually upheld by the Delhi High Court.
I am talking about Nirbhaya – India’s Daughter for whom thousands of people marched with candles from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan to find justice while some criticized the victim for ‘being out late’, and questioned her safety saying ‘it’s her fault that she left her place at night.’
Are we still living in an era that lacks progress for women? Have those who question women’s freedom ever considered their own? Have they felt what Jyoti had to go through? And what if Jyoti was an acquaintance, a colleague, a friend, or a relative? Would anyone still have the heart to speak that way?
These questions are better left to one’s own thought rather.
Fast forward to the present time. The verdict is finally out. It is a death sentence for the four culprits — Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma, and Mukesh Singh; by the Delhi High Court on 6th May 2017. Even though it took over 1600 days for the law to decide the punishment, justice prevailed. Better late than never.
While the cases of rape are still at large and haunts women in our society, we look upon the judiciary to take action. However late it took for Nirbhaya’s verdict, it has given us hope to rely on the justice system.
Jyoti, meaning light, has literally given us the hope that shines through. Even though her death was unfortunate and gruesome, It has united all men and women alike to fight the battle for women’s safety.
Note: This is an article by Betsy T from Campazine, currently featured on Simple Insights.
