Curb the disillusionment with the traditional rule of law

Context:

Citizens need to be aware of the grave dangers in the growing fad for a ‘shortcut’ or an ‘abridged’ rule of law model.

Legislative Measures to Address Rule of Law Challenges

Updating Laws: Amendments and replacements, such as the Jan Vishwas Act and Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, target outdated laws, reducing compliance burden, and rationalizing penalties.
Smart Governance: Government addresses infirmities, ensuring laws align with modern thinking, promoting trust-based governance, and facilitating business activities.
Colonial Legacy Removal: Replacing colonial-era laws like the Indian Penal Code aims to shed historical legacies, modernize, and bolster credibility in the legal system.

Crisis of Credibility in Rule of Law

Consumer Perception: Rule of law credibility crisis lies in the experiences and perceptions of law consumers, including victims, enforcers, and the majoritarian command group.
Policing Practices: Encounters and 'bulldozer' policing replace traditional investigation methods, evoking populist support but risking abuse without adequate democratic checks.
Abuses and Repercussions: Examples from France and Poonch district highlight the potential for abuse, leading to violence, protests, and calls for thorough investigations and accountability.

Abridged Rule of Law Challenges and Cautionary Approach

Traditional vs. Abridged Rule of Law: Traditional rule of law ensures uniformity, predictability, and normative fidelity through a defined process, while the abridged model seeks quick and reactive justice.
Crude Nature of Abridged Rule: Abridged rule of law, seen in encounters and 'bulldozer' actions, risks making justice arbitrary, with targets chosen based on majoritarian dictate or cryptic information.
Government's Stand: The current government favors the traditional rule of law, emphasizing the dangers of a growing trend towards shortcuts and advocating caution in adopting an abridged model.

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