The Karnataka High Court has made strong observations on crime and punishment while hearing the bail plea of a 23-year-old man accused of rape. During the proceedings, the court remarked that stricter punishments similar to those seen in some Gulf nations could help strengthen deterrence against crime.
The observations were made by Justice R Nataraj while hearing the case and rejecting the accused’s bail plea.
Court says law has 'lost its teeth'
According to reports, the judge expressed concern over the increasing frequency of crimes and said offenders are not being dealt with firmly enough under the current legal framework.
Also Read | Centre clears five Supreme Court appointments after expansion of court strength
“Law has lost its teeth because we don’t deal with offenders firmly. That is why committing an offence has become so easy unlike in the middle-east. If you chop leg or hand, perhaps only then people will realise to comply with law. Because we have a democracy, everybody takes it (for granted)," the Court remarked, Bar & Bench reported.
The court also observed that people were increasingly taking democratic freedoms and legal rights for granted, resulting in crimes being committed casually and repeatedly.
Bail plea hearing adjourned
The High Court issued notice to the Karnataka government regarding the bail plea and listed the matter for further hearing on June 8.
Advocate Ayantika Mondal, appearing for the accused, argued before the court that her client had been in judicial custody for nearly two months. She also maintained that no offence had been committed.
Allegations against student
The case involves a 23-year-old student accused of sexually assaulting a female classmate from the Manipal Institute of Technology.
According to the complaint filed by the woman, the two were in a relationship for some time. She later distanced herself from the accused after allegedly growing suspicious of his character.
Also Read | Sukesh Chandrasekhar faces organised crime trial as Delhi court invokes MCOCA in ₹217 crore extortion case
The complainant alleged that the accused sexually assaulted her against her will.
The matter is currently under investigation, while the High Court is expected to continue hearing the bail plea later this month.
