JAIL OR HEAVY FINE

Salman, Saif, and some other stars are being tried by a   Rajasthan court for offences related to violation of preservation of wildlife. The punishment would attract a jail sentence and/or a small fine.

Most of these fine amounts are so petty that they would hardly serve as effective deterrents. That is why judges usually also award jail sentences. While this effectively deters the guilty such jail sentences do not serve any purpose of society.   How about, instead, imposing a very, very high penalty?

Indeed, how about offering a choice between a very heavy penalty [running into crores of rupees] and serving jail sentences? The fine so collected can be put to serve the cause violated; in this case preservation of wildlife. Let a   new sanctuary be set up, for instance.  This may also work in cases such as Sanjay Dutt’s.   Let the celebrities shell out this fine, if they wish. Let all their friends, producers and directors whose monies are at   stake contribute if they care.

In such cases ‘deterrence’ is the objective and not immobilizing the guilty, [as is the case with offences like rape and murder where physical confinement of the guilty is necessary to reassure the victim]. And heavy penalty serves a good enough deterrence, in addition to serving some social causes. And saving the cost of maintaining the jail.

Like everything else reforms must take place in our judicial system. If this suggestion merits your consideration please comment. More so if you have a legal acumen.