Justice delayed is justice

denied
Meaning

 The saying ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is quite famous and used often.
It has a deep and significant meaning which reflects true situations. It is a
legal maxim which has historic origins.
 Justice delayed is justice denied is a maxim which means that even if remedy
against an illegal injury caused is available but not executed in due time,
such a situation is comparable to having no remedy at all.
 When justice is not provided to the injured party in timely manner, and is
prolonged to an insufferable amount of time, it is a form of injustice to the
injured party. Apart from the opportunity to get justice, it is also necessary
for justice and remedy to be provided in a speedy manner.
Related cases

 Bhopal gas tragedy

On the night of December 2-3, 1984, there was a major leak of Methyl Isocyanate
(MIC) gas in the Union Carbide Factory in Bhopal. Over five lakh people were
affected by the deadly chemical, while 3,787 people (official version) died
although the unofficial version puts the number over 16,000. According to a
report appearing in Mother Jones in 2014, there are over 1.2 lakh people still
suffering from the aftereffects of exposure to the deadly gas. The case dragged
on for several years. The Chairman of Union Carbide was never prosecuted,
seven employees of the company were sentenced to two years in jail and the
company itself got away with paying $470 million compensation. Several victims
remain without any compensation being paid after all these years.
Uphaar Cinema Fire Case

The most glaring and recent example is the Uphaar cinema verdict that came
after 18 years! On 13 June 1997, 59 persons lost their lives and over 100 were
injured in a fire that broke out in the cinema hall during a film screening. After
winding its way through years of trial, the Supreme Court finally pronounced its
verdict on compensation to the victims. In a move that surprised everyone, the
Supreme Court announced that the Ansal brothers, Gopal and Sushil, needn’t
serve jail sentence and fined them Rs. 60 crore, which was to be paid to the
Delhi government. It took 18 years of waiting only to find the people responsible
go scot free. Where is the justice for the 59 dead and 100 injured?
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case

In a brutal and horrific response to Indira Gandhi’s assassination on the morning

of 31 October 1984, general public and supporters of the Congress party in Delhi
unleashed violence against the Sikh community. Soon the violence spread to
several other parts of India. In all, 2,800 deaths were reported (though this
number is contested), of which Delhi alone accounted for 2,100 deaths. After all
these years, most of the accused remain free and till date, victims are still to get
justice while many are yet to receive compensation.
Rudal Shah v. State of Bihar

Rudul Sah was arrested in 1953 on charges of murdering his wife. He was
acquitted by an Additional Sessions Judge, in 1968, who directed his release from
jail, pending further orders. Rudul Sah languished in jail for 14 years after his
acquittal, until his plight was highlighted in the media in 1982 and led to the
filing of the PIL on his behalf. This case was the clear example of ‘’justice
delayed is justice denied”.
conclusion

Indian judiciary is the last hope for citizens of india. One of the main pillars of
democracy, it along with media is one to which people look upto while
administrative system and police is accused of being highly corrupted. Indian
politicians, bureaucrats and police are among least trusted people of country. So
the constructives for the ‘justice delayed is justice denied can be conclude :
 Adequate number of judges
 More fast courts needed
 Better Training of Support Staff and Investigating Agencies
 An Effective and Fair Legal System will result in a Stronger India
 Use of technology in Law
Thank you
by:
Mayank
Shivam
Nihal
Mihir