Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'In India some are more equal than others' that was published in Newsband

In India some are more equal than others

The news has spread that Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt will be released by the end of February after serving a five-year prison term for being in possession of an AK-56 assault rifle over 20 years ago. The question asked is whether Sanjay is being treated preferentially. Many of his fans had appealed for pardon on his behalf. The Maharashtra Governor, however, did not succumb to the demand for preferential treatment to him solely on the basis of his popularity.

But he did not object to his getting released eight months ahead of the completion of his term. Good behaviour is reason.

There is a popular impression that he is being favoured. The actor may have spent as many as 146 days on parole or furlough since May 2013. Comparisons are also bound to be drawn between Sanjay’s case and that of Zaibunissa Kazi, a septuagenarian fellow-prisoner who is also serving a five-year term in the same case. Will the rules of remission apply in equal measure?

Our judges should tackle cases at lightning speed especially those involving politicians and VIPs. There is a feeling that they show much leniency for rich and famous. Such cases raise the theory that if not to the executive, the judges should be accountable to people.

Someone said: "Laws are spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught." I think this is the very nature of Indian Judicial system. Sometimes it gives the impression that 'equality of law' can be found only in the Book. It shows that the law is different for the rich and poor and all are not equal before law.

The acquittal of famous personalities from heinous offences shows duplicity and double standards in judicial system. While such big fish are let off, the ordinary persons are mostly caught and tried for years on end and even the verdicts are not without doubt. Standard verdicts and rule of law is not followed for all citizens. The rules of remission should apply equally to all prisoners regardless of their social status. These few instances in society set benchmark for others.

The Government should remain very cautious while dealing with celebrity cases in a State where we are said to have 'Rule of Law'. Rules and regulations in our country is very lean. All these credits goes to our MLAs, MPs and other form of government. This is injustice to the victims since they don’t get proper Justice.

The preferential treatment being meted out to a VIP prisoner is very common in India. It is clear that here some are considered more equal than others.