NALSAR University of Law Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao has passionately called for a fundamental shift in India’s criminal justice system, urging its ‘constitutionalization’ to uphold principles of fairness, dignity, and equality for all citizens.
During the 15th endowment lecture at Kakatiya University, Warangal, a tribute to the late human rights champion K. Balagopal, Professor Rao highlighted Balagopal’s enduring legacy. He noted that Balagopal’s vision was to extend constitutional guarantees into the very fabric of policing, prosecution, and prisons, ensuring they are not just legal texts but lived realities.
A staunch advocate for this constitutional integration, Mr. Rao articulated the critical need to bridge the gap between legal pronouncements and their practical application. He emphasized transforming rights and jurisprudence into routine practice, making the system inherently more compassionate and humane. He stressed the urgent requirement for a new approach to criminology and criminal justice—one that actively minimizes suffering and maximizes dignity, peace, and love, calling for the promotion of “humanistic criminology.”
Furthermore, Mr. Rao pressed for vital reforms in bail laws. He pointed out the concerning trend where special criminal statutes, such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, frequently undermine the foundational principle that “bail is the norm, jail the exception.” He also drew attention to the often-overlooked and deplorable conditions within prisons, lamenting that “the troubling reality is that prisons, prisoners, and their difficulties remain invisible.”
He underscored the imperative for enhanced legal aid, particularly for undertrial prisoners who often face immense hardship without adequate representation.
Reflecting on Balagopal’s relentless fight for civil liberties and human rights, the Vice-Chancellor concluded, “His work and leadership in the civil liberties movement taught us that constitutionalism is not exhausted by courtrooms or textbooks. Its true test lies in police stations, trial courts, and prison cells.”
Kakatiya University Vice-Chancellor K. Pratap Reddy also shared his insights during the significant event.