The breakdown of Justice
How does a law-abiding, peaceful state become a center of anarchy?
I have often wondered about the stages in which a society degenerates into lawlessness. This is what i believe:
The breakdown of justice does not happen overnight. Neither does the blatant outflow of public anger.
Things simmer before they boil.
Here are the four stages that I believe the degradation of our trust in Justice goes through:
Stage 1: Commenting
- Voicing opinions on social media
- Simple demonstrations
- Media - plays and movies
Overall perception - “Doubting Justice”
Stage 2: Admonishing
- Strong language
- Suggesting alternative actions
- Threatening to act on behalf of the lawmakers
Overall Perception - “Questioning Justice”
Stage 3: Rioting
- Take law into hands
- Tear down the complete Justice framework
- Establish alternative justice and governance
Overall Perception - “Delivering Justice”
Stage 4: Hell breaks loose
- Mob take over
- Limited set of ideals that serve a few - think ISIS
- Zero innocence
Overall Perception - “Establishing own justice framework”
From Stage 4, to get to Stage 0 (Satisfied) is a painful, slow process. Think of countries where mob rule has been defeated in the last decade.
About the Priyanka Reddy case: The Indian justice system felt itself under attack. This was Stage 2 this week. Multiple incidents in Hyderabad and other parts of India and adding of more fire (pun intended) by the Unnao incident had people thinking of Stage 3.
It knew it had to stop this from reaching Stage 3 from where the ‘flywheel effect’ would have taken up. This encounter, for me, is the signs of a justice system realising that it has to change and adapt, without omissions and errors.
An expression of willingness was demonstrated along with symbolising the insane amount of Red Tape that exists. Yes, Justice is not equally meted out today.This does not denote that this will be the de-facto behaviour going forward, rather just a harbinger of changes in the judicial system that will now be forced in.
As it is said - The real threat to democracy is not the bite of the wolves but the silence of the lambs. We have started bleating.