It has taken 10 years for the families of Kokilavani, Gayathri and Hemalatha — killed when the college bus they were travelling in was torched by a group of persons in 2000 following the conviction of AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa in a criminal case — to get justice. The Supreme Court has done the right thing by confirming the death penalty awarded to the three prime accused.
This should send a warning to sycophants. The families of the victims have no doubt undergone a prolonged trauma but they have also shown exemplary courage fighting for justice.
R. Karpagam,
Coimbatore
By upholding the death sentence, the Supreme Court has sent a strong message to all those who harm innocent people and public property to prove their loyalty to their leaders. It was a hard fought victory for the prosecution, the parents, and the witnesses of the young girls.
Expectedly, there will be a hue and cry from rights activists who oppose capital punishment. Let them meet the parents of the unfortunate girls and realise for themselves what they have gone through all these years.
A. Kutub Shamshudin,
Chennai
In our country, it takes a long time for a death sentence to be implemented. The time between the occurrence of the crime, the first trial, the sentence, the appeals and, finally, the implementation of the sentence extends to many years. While it may be important to offer everyone a just trial, it leads to an almost never-ending wait for the families of the victims. Their hope of speedy justice gradually diminishes. We should evolve some mechanism to try such cases without delay.
Chambath Gopalakrishnan,
Palakkad
The criminal justice system is based on the principle ‘Justice hurried is justice buried.' Therefore, a delay in delivering a verdict has become normal. I wonder how many who were outraged over the Dharmapuri bus burning incident are alive to hear the Supreme Court judgment.
It would be futile to hope that the verdict will put an end to similar incidents in future. Mobs bent upon destroying life and property in full public view with no one, including the law-enforcement authorities, to stop them are on the rise. The rot lies in our electoral-political system in which our leaders survive with the help of mob culture.
A. Victor Frank,
Chennai
None can have reservations on the Supreme Court's verdict confirming the death sentence of those involved in the 2000 Dharmapuri bus burning incident. But can we say it will deter the criminals?
If the answer is ‘yes,' we must have instant judgments for horrific murders in future.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,
Ranipet
