Well-conceived reforms in these laws would automatically translate into massive reforms in criminal justice. New offences under a fresh classification scheme, like those suggested by the Malimath Committee on criminal justice reforms, can be introduced. Unprincipled criminalisation must be avoided to save the state from dealing with too many entrants into the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system often swings between the three theories of deterrence, retribution and reformation depending on its convenience. A Criminal Justice Reform Committee with a mandate to evolve criminal justice policy should be formed for this exercise.

Source: The Hindu October 21, 2019 18:45 UTC