- Recently, the Supreme Court of India emphasised that courts must follow the Principle of Just Deserts while awarding punishment in criminal cases.
- What is the Principle of Just Deserts?
- It is a criminal justice philosophy based on the idea of proportional punishment.
- It means that a person should receive punishment equal to the seriousness of the crime committed (Minor offences should attract lighter punishment and serious crimes should attract stricter penalties).
- It rejects both – excessively harsh punishment and excessive leniency. Instead, it promotes fair and balanced sentencing.
- The idea is rooted in the theory of retribution which means that offenders deserve punishment because they have committed a wrongful act. It does not mean revenge and punishment is morally justified when it corresponds to the harm caused.
- Why This Principle Emerged: It emerged to address the concerns of leniency, inconsistency in punishments and lack of standardisation in sentencing. It advocates for clear accountability, consistency, and predictable justice through standardised penalty frameworks.
FAQs
Q1. What does the Principle of Just Deserts mean?
It is a criminal justice philosophy that ensures punishment is proportional to the seriousness of the crime. Minor offences attract lighter penalties, while serious crimes warrant stricter punishment.
Q2. What theory is the Principle of Just Deserts rooted in?
It is based on the theory of Retribution, which holds that offenders deserve punishment because they committed a wrongful act. Importantly, it is not about revenge but about moral justification and fairness.
Q3. Why did the Principle of Just Deserts emerge?
It arose to address concerns of leniency, inconsistency, and lack of standardisation in sentencing, advocating for accountability and predictable justice.
Q4. How does the Principle of Just Deserts differ from other approaches?
It rejects both excessive harshness and excessive leniency, unlike deterrence-based or rehabilitation-focused models, and instead promotes balanced sentencing.
Q5. What did the Supreme Court of India emphasise recently regarding the Principle of Just Deserts?
The Court reaffirmed that Indian courts must follow the Principle of Just Deserts to ensure fair, consistent, and proportionate punishment in criminal cases.
