What is Criminal Law? What we lawyers and judges do in the Court-rooms? Why even a person who has committed crime in front of TV Cameras, can still be acquitted in a court of law?
Most of the people, journalists,TV anchors (Including Justice Arnab), Activist, Thinkers, probably, do not understand process of a court of law. I will try to demystify the whole process of law in just two lines.
These two lines are found in Shakespeare's Hamlet,
Polonious: " What do you read, my Lord?"
Hamlet : " Words, Words, Words."
This is what lawyers and judges do in court and at home. Whatever may have happened, first Police reduces it into pages full of words. Then witnesses come in court. Whatever they have to say, is reproduced in pages full of words. Then from this pool of words, prosecutor throws some words on a platter, by way of his arguments. Then, defense lawyer picks up some words from the pool and throws on a a platter, by way of defense argument. Then Judge picks up some words from the pool and also from the platter, and then he compares with words printed in law books. If the words are matching, the accused is sent to jail.If the words do not match, the accused is acquitted.
This is as simple as a crossword game. Judge or Lawyer do not go by what is shown on TV or Printed media. Media does sometime build pressure on judiciary. But there is nothing like Media Trial. Everything goes strictly by the words contained in compilation of any case.
Haresh Raichura
20/02/2012