IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences

ISSN PRINT 2319 1775 Online 2320-7876

Criminal Justice System in India Shifting Its Attention from the Accused to the Victim- Critical Study

Main Article Content

Ashok Kumar Rai , Dr. Manu Singh

Abstract

Legal system is excessively concentrated on the offender’s rights rather than the victims of the crime. This trend needs to be corrected, and victims and future victims must come first- Ford, Gerald R. In order to prevent, deter, and control crime as well as to punish offenders, the criminal justice system serves as a social control tool. An act of crime is viewed as a strike against societal order and humanity. The guiding principles of the Indian legal system are "innocent till proven guilty" and "Let 100 Guilty Be Acquitted but One Innocent Should Not Be Convicted." Legislators have devised numerous rights, safeguards, and processes over the years to help offenders change and be rehabilitated back into society. However, the victims—the party most impacted by the crime—have received little attention. Does locking up the offenders suffice? Does the victim get any genuine, significant relief as a result? Most of the time, the victims receive no adequate support or aid. They have the barest rights and protections. Their rights have been covered in numerous legal reports, such as the Malimath Committee report and the 154th Law Commission report, but how effective have they been? Added in 2009 by the Cr.P.C of 2008, Section 357A of the CrPC, 1973, provides for a victims compensation programme. By the same statute, a proviso was added to section 372 that grants victims the ability to appeal. These changes are a start in the right direction for victims' rights, but is it enough? How far have we progressed on the road from retribution to rehabilitation?.

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