New Delhi (Agency): Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram drew attention to what he perceives as inconsistencies within the Indian justice system. Using two specific cases as examples, he contrasted the time it took for Rahul Gandhi to receive relief from the Supreme Court with the swift legal response a BJP MP received.
Chidambaram’s comments come hot on the heels of Rahul Gandhi’s return to the Lok Sabha. This return was made possible after the Supreme Court stayed Gandhi’s conviction related to a defamation case. Highlighting the peculiarities in the speed of justice delivery, Chidambaram took to social media. He tweeted about BJP MP Ram Shanker Katheria from Etawah, stating that Katheria was “convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for two years” on charges of ‘assault’.
Interestingly, Chidambaram points out, Mr. Katheria managed to secure a stay on his conviction in just “two-three days” from the first appellate court in Agra. In his tweet, Chidambaram noted, “Good for Mr Katheria. I have no comment.”
In stark contrast, Chidambaram brought up Rahul Gandhi’s case, where Gandhi had to wait “more than four months to get a stay of his conviction” related to an alleged defamation. This relief for Gandhi only came from the highest court in the country, the Supreme Court. Summing up his thoughts on these disparities, Chidambaram emphatically stated, “The justice-delivery system in India moves in mysterious ways.”
Delving a little deeper into Katheria’s case: On a recent Saturday, an MP-MLA court found the BJP MP from Etawah guilty of assault charges dating back to 2011. This verdict stemmed from an incident where Katheria allegedly assaulted staff members of a private power firm. The court sentenced him to two years in prison and levied a fine of Rs 50,000. However, by Monday, a district court in Agra had already put a stay on this conviction.
On the other side, Rahul Gandhi’s recent legal troubles ended in his favor. The Supreme Court’s decision on August 4th led to the Lok Sabha Secretariat issuing a notification. It announced Gandhi’s reinstatement as an MP, clarifying that the earlier disqualification was now nullified. However, this decision is subject to any further judgments from the judiciary.
While it’s common for legal systems worldwide to face scrutiny and criticism, Chidambaram’s observations ignite a conversation about the perceived disparities in the justice delivery timings for different individuals in India. Whether these cases are mere coincidences or indicative of a larger systemic issue remains a matter of debate. Nonetheless, it’s essential for a country’s justice system to be seen as transparent, consistent, and unbiased for the faith of its citizens.
