Social Discipline and Crime:
The issue of the lack of social discipline and the growing criminal tendencies cannot be ignored any longer. The growing criminal activity is a direct result of socio-economic-political factors and can be attributed to a succession of weak governments and an even weaker and inappropriate legal structure.
Criminality is on the rise, simply because the mechanism of law and order and prosecution of crime is both inadequate and slow in its process. This problem can only be tackled by a complete overhaul of our legal system and its mechanisms. While legal luminaries in India could give much better advise on the changes required in our legal system, the basic requirement is making the courts more people friendly and efficient.
It is strongly believed that a ‘jury’ system will not only ensure a fair trial for the accused, but will also ease the strain that is put upon the judges as they singularly tackle a ever increasing work load.
A social code of conduct is required on an immediate basis that not only prescribes the way that the individuals should conduct themselves in public places, but would also emphasize the manner in which social groups have to conduct themselves as a whole. This code of conduct, strictly enforced, will definitely reduce the social crimes that afflict the majority of our people today. This will not, in any form or manner, impinge upon the individual’s right to privacy, but will help in streamlining social interaction amongst the people.
Social code of conduct would cover the areas of noise pollution, cleanliness in the streets and in municipal wards, ease of removal of garbage, prohibit the misuse of public areas as open air urinals and latrines, prohibit the use of public areas as spittoons, and allow for a smooth and easier use of public facilities like footpaths and foot bridges.
The removal of footpath vendors would be a prime concern towards a better and safer use of footpaths, as would be the redesigning of the pubic facilities for use by handicapped persons. Most of the social issues in our nation today can be attributed to a weak mechanism for prosecution of crime. Criminality has been glorified as a medium of social change, but this in fact has proven (by recent events in Maharashtra and Karnataka) to be precursor in organized crime involving all strata of society and the bureaucracy.
Crime prosecution figures are as varied as the groups that poll these figures. But, the perception amongst the general population is that much of the criminal activity is unchallenged by the government; thereby reinforcing in the mind of both the people and the criminals that the rule of the law is weak and impotent. The suggestions for improving the current situation is as follows:
a) The deployment on a crisis basis of Citizens Identity Cards.
b) Upgrading of the police and law enforcement departments with modern machinery to track and investigate crime and persons associated with criminal activities.
c) Sharing of criminal files amongst city, state and central law enforcement agencies on a real time basis to ensure a free flow of information for prevention of crime.
d) A stronger and affirmative legal structure that allows for a faster prosecution of criminals.
e) A hard labor based punishment policy for criminals that allow the society to utilize the physical and mental talents of convicted criminals.
f) A provision under law to appropriate and sell assets of economic and serious crime offenders, in order to confiscate illegal earning and return them to the government treasury, which in turn will self-finance the criminal prosecution efforts.
g) The restoration of the death penalty for heinous crimes. It has been proved in societies around the globe and over periods of time that a successful and strong nation is always the result of the strength of character and discipline among its individual citizens.
