SYSTEM is reviving itself , GooD response to JAN ADALATs

PATNA: Additional director general (HQ) Abhayanand, talking about the 'jan adalats' being held under Section 110 CrPC, said people are coming out fearlessly against criminals now. He cited the example when people openly gave evidence against criminal Doman Gope, who was summoned for several land-grabbing cases in the district. Gope has been involved in criminal activities for the last eight years. Similarly, they also spoke against another notorious criminal Umesh alias Umeshia. Umesh, a resident of Azadnagar under Sohsarai in Nalanda district, has amassed huge wealth through unfair means. The 'jan adalat' ordered him to furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 and give an undertaking not to commit any crime. "If he commits a crime, he will have to pay the bond amount," said a senior police official. "If criminals defy the summons, the court can issue arrest warrants against them," said another official. "The government has decided to hold such 'jan adalats' in all the 38 districts in phases," Abhayanand said. Another police official admitted extortions, abductions and other crimes have virtually taken the shape of cottage industry during the last decade in the state with a sizable number of unemployed youths getting lured to crime for quick money. The patronage extended to criminals by politicians only made matters worse. "The rot has set in and it will take some time to weed out these dreaded elements through public trials," the official said.

The law was introduced by the British. This includes open trial of cases pertaining to dacoity, gambling, extortion, abduction, communal riots, use of muscle power and money in elections, land grabbing and other crimes. The initiative envisaging involvement of people to establish the rule of law, which amounts to social indictment of criminals with their trial in 'jan adalats', was recently launched in CM Nitish Kumar's home district of Nalanda. The likes of Diwakar Singh, Jitendra Singh, Dhananjay Singh, Manoj Yadav, Birju Beldar and Pappu Singh, all notorious criminals of the district, were summoned before the court. So far nine well-known criminals of Nalanda district have been awarded punishment through public trials. Additional director general (HQ) Abhayanand told TOI that though local residents were apparently shy at the first 'adalat', during the subsequent 'jan adalats' eyewitnesses came out fearlessly and gave evidence against a criminal. "Now we are getting tremendous public response," he said.