GUWAHATI | GM Srivastava says people increasingly want instant punishment for heinous crimes, while psychiatrist Dr Suresh Chakravarty warns that demands for instant justice pose a threat to democratic institutions

GUWAHATI, November 6: A growing demand for police encounters whenever heinous crimes such as murder and rape are reported has raised concerns over changing public attitudes towards justice in Assam, with former Director General of Assam Police GM Srivastava attributing the trend to increasing impatience with the country’s criminal justice system.

Srivastava said that while people earlier demanded justice for victims of serious crimes, a section of society now increasingly calls for the accused to be killed in police encounters.

He observed that the growing preference for instant punishment was linked to delays in the investigation and judicial processes.

The former police chief pointed out that investigations take considerable time and that police are required to file chargesheets within 90 days. The judicial process can take even longer, as cases move from trial courts to the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Even after a death sentence is awarded, the convicted person has the option of seeking further legal remedies, including filing a mercy petition before the President of India. Srivastava said changing social values and declining public patience had contributed to the growing demand for immediate punishment whenever serious crimes occur.

Psychiatrist Dr Suresh Chakravarty, head of the Psychiatry Department at Gauhati Medical College, also identified changing social attitudes and declining patience as factors behind the trend. Drawing a comparison with changing patterns of learning and everyday life, Chakravarty said people had become accustomed to instant results with the growing use of technology.

“During our student life, we had to read a number of books to write an essay. But anyone can write a number of essays in a day using apps like ChatGPT. In the same way, people want everything instantly, including justice,” he said.

Chakravarty also pointed to delays in the judicial system as a factor contributing to public frustration. He cited instances where financially powerful accused persons had managed to flee abroad, adding to perceptions that the justice system was taking too long to deliver results.

However, he cautioned that demanding instant justice through the killing of accused persons was a dangerous trend. He stressed that all four pillars of democracy must work together to address the changing mindset and strengthen democratic institutions.

The remarks come amid growing public debate over police encounters and demands for swift punishment following serious crimes in Assam, raising questions about the balance between public anger, timely justice and the rule of law.