Judges awarded the death penalty to four convicts in the Delhi gang rape case to satisfy the collective conscience of the community, which evolved as a result of wide media coverage and road protests (“Why capital punishment must go,” Oct. 3). In many rape cases, the accused get away with a lighter punishment, thanks to judicial delays and better socio-economic conditions. Crimes should be dealt with equally, irrespective of media coverage, public outrage and the background of the accused.
J. Sumuki,Vellore
The words “collective conscience of the community” have been wrongly interpreted. ‘Community’ refers to the whole. When a person commits a heinous crime, it is not only the victim who is affected. The whole community feels insecure.
Devi S. Hari,Thiruvananthapuram
