THE LIMITS OF LAW
Crime without Due Punishment
ON August 26, 1978, two children, Sanjay, 15, and Gita, 17, became victims of a cold-blooded murder committed in the capital city of India, Delhi. The nation’s conscience was aroused by this horrendous crime, and a massive manhunt was launched for the heartless killers. Finally, two men, Jasbir Singh, alias Billa, 25, and Kuljit Singh, alias Ranga, 23, were arrested at Agra railway station, and charged with the murder of the two children. A lengthy court case followed, which ended with both men being sentenced to death. A series of appeals followed, but all were turned down, and after their case had passed through all the various legal stages, both men were hanged, on January 31, 1982 in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
It was Additional Session Judge M.K. Chawla who delivered the death sentence. His five-page verdict contained this sentence: “The ends of justice would be met only if the two accused were put to eternal sleep, thereby allowing others to live in peace.”
The words of the judge give an apt illustration of the limits of human law. All that human law can do is separate criminals from the rest of the society; it is not capable of delivering the punishment which they deserve. To take an innocent life is such a ghastly crime that there is no worldly punishment that can atone for it. A judge in a human court of law cannot punish a murderer in a manner commensurate to his crime. He can only prevent those with criminal and homicidal tendencies from causing further harm to human society.
The limitations of this world necessitate the coming of another, unlimited world, which will make up for the shortcomings of this world. Without the Hereafter, this world is incomplete. Here, a judge can only separate a criminal from potential victims. This is done with a view to maintain the smooth running of human society. It does not amount to justice. In the next world, justice will be done. Everyone will receive the punishment which they deserve. There, the punishment will be proportionate with the crime, which is never the case in this world.
