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PETITIONER: HIRALAL MALLICK

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: STATE OF BIHAR

DATE OF JUDGMENT16/08/1977

BENCH: KRISHNAIYER, V.R. BENCH: KRISHNAIYER, V.R. GOSWAMI, P.K.

CITATION:  1977 AIR 2236            1978 SCR  (1) 301  1977 SCC  (4)  44  CITATOR INFO :  RF         1979 SC1519  (14)  RF         1980 SC2147  (43)  RF         1983 SC   1  (108)

ACT: Indian  Penal   Code, sections 302 and 34-Vernier  scale  of mens  rea, reasonable and probable consequences of the  Act- Degree  of  criminality gauged by personalised  approach  to circumstances  of  involvement,  doli  capax,  age  and  ex- pectation   of  consequences  by   offender-Desideratum   of sentence-Welfare   and   therapeutic  orientation   of   jus juvenalis-Correction   and   rehabilitation   of    luvenile delinquent.

HEADNOTE: Hiralal Mallick was 12 years old when he along with his  two elder  brothers, was convicted by the Trial Court  under  s. 302  read with s. 34, I.P.C., and sentenced for  life.   In appeal,  the  High  Court directed  the  conversion  of  the convictions  from s. 302 into one under s. 326 read with  s. 34,  I.P.C.,  and the appellants sentence was reduced  to  4 years in consideration for his young age. The appellant contended that his participation in the  crime could only attract s. 324 I.P.C., that he was too  infantine to  understand  the  deadly  import  of  the  sword   wounds delivered  by  him, that his involvement had  been  circums- tanced  by  the  fraternal company, and  that  he  had  only inflicted  superficial injuries showing a lesser  degree  of intent. Dismissing  the appeal, but prescribing guidelines  for  the appellants treatment in Jail. the Court. HELD  :  (1) The vernier scale of a maws mens  rea  is,  the pragmatic  one ,of the reasonable and probable  consequences of his act.  Except in pronounced ,categories, the intent is spelt  out  objectively by the rough-and-ready test  of  the prudent  man  and not with psychic sensitivity  to  retarded individuals. [303F, G] Observation : Man  is a rational being, and law is a system of  behavioral cybernetics  where noetic niceties, if pressed too far,  may defeat its societal efficacy. [303F] (2)  When a crime is committed by the concerted action of  a

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plurality  of persons the degree of criminality may  very  , depending  not only on the injurious sequal but also on  the part  played and the circumstances present,  a  personalised approach  with reference to each participant has to be  made regarding  the circumstance of involvement, his doli  capax, age and expectation of consequences. [304-A, C] Observation (i)  Adult  intent, automatically attributed to infant  mens is an error, but at the same time, doli capax is not so much measured  by  years  and  days as by  the  strength  of  the delinquent’s understanding and judgment. [304H, 305A] Criminal  Pleading,  Evidence & Practice  by  Archibold,  An Introduction in Criminal Law by Cross and Jones, R. v.  Owen [1830]  4  C & P 236; R. v. Kershaw [1902]  18  T.L.R.  357; Criminology  Problems  and Perspective, page  127  by  Ahmad Siddique; referred to. (ii) The  ultimate desideratum of most sentences is to  make an offender a non-offender.  The Indian legal system must be sensitized  by  juvenile  justice.  The Bench  and  the  Bar should  be alerted about jus juvenalis.  The  compassion  of the penal law for juvenescents cannot be reduced to  jeunity by forensic indifference, since justice to juvenile  justice desiderates  more  from  a  lively  judicial  process.   The establishment  of  a  welfare  oriented  jurisdiction   over juveniles  is predicated and over judicialisation and  over- formalisation  of  Court  proceedings  is  contra-indicated. Correctionally  speaking, the perception of  delinquency  as indicative  of the person’s underlying  difficulties,  inner tensions   and  explosive  stresses  similar  to  those   of maladjusted  children, and the belief that court  atmosphere is  psychically traumatic and socially stigmatic, argues  in favour of more 302 informal treatment by a free mix of professional and  social workers  and experts operating within the framework  of  the law.   Our  nation can never be  descriminalised  until  the States legislate a children Act, set up the curial and other infrastructure  and  give  up  retributions  in  favour   of restorative arts in the jurisdiction of young deviants,  and the  crime of punishing them is purged legislatively,  admi- nistratively and judicatively. [305D-E, 306C, 307A-D] ’Sentencing and Probation’ (published by : National  College of  the  State Judiciary, Reno, Nevada, U.S.A.)’-,  Kent  v. United  States,  383 U.S. 541, 556 [1966];  Social  Defence, Vol.   VII  No. 25, July 1971 (published by  :  the  Central Bureau  of  Correctional  Services,  Department  of   Social Welfare, Government of India) referred to. Direction It  is essential that the therapeutic orientation  of   the prison  system, vis-a-vis the appellant, must be  calculated to  release  stresses, resolve tensions  and  restore  inner balance.   Work designed constructively and curatively  with special  reference to the needs of the person involved,  may have  a  healing effect and change the  personality  of  the quondam  criminal.  It is correctionally desirable to  grant parole  to prisoners periodically, and it is  important  for the  prison department to explore, experiment  and  organise gradually  some  reformative  exercise  like  Transcendental Meditation,  in  order to eliminate recidivism,  and  induce rehabilitation.  The brooding presence of judicial vigilance is   the  institutional  price  of  prison   justice.    The sentencing process should be reformed with flexibility huma- nity,  restoration and periodic review informing the  system and  involving  the  court in  the  healing  directions  and corrections affecting the sentencee whom judicial power  has

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cast into the ’cage’. [310G-H, 313A-E, 314A-B] Guidelines  for  sentencing  (published by  :  the  National Probation and Parole Association, New York 1957); Rigveda 1- 89-i; Bhavan’s Journal, July 17, 1977, page 57; Kentucky L. J., Vol. 60 1971-72 No. 2; University of Maryland Law Forum, Vol.   III,  No. 2, Winter 1973; State of  Arizona  v.  Jean Coston  Presley (Case No. 6878) Judgment dated  5-3-76;  and United  States  of  America  v.  Robert  Charles  Rusch  Jr. (Criminal Action No. 4-8-1750 in the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Michigan) referred to.

JUDGMENT: CRIMINAL, APPELLATE- JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No.  256 of 1977. Appeal  by Special Leave from the Judgment and  Order  dated 29-16-76 of the Patna High Court in Criminal Appeal No.  464 of 1971. D.   Goburdhan for the Appellant. U.   P. Singh, and S. N. Jha for the Respondent. The following Judgments were delivered : KRISHNA IYER,.  J.-This appeal involves an issue of criminal culpability presenting mixed questions of fact and law and a theme  of juvenile justice, a criminological  Cinderella  of the Indian law-in-action. Hiralal Mallick, the sole appellant before us, was a 12-year old lad when he toddled into crime, conjointly with his  two elder brothers.  The three, together, were charged with  the homicide of one Arjan Mallick which ended in a conviction of all  under  S.  302 read with S. 34 IPC.   The  trial  judge impartially imposed on each one a punishment of imprisonment for  life.   On appeal by all ’the three,  the  High  Court, taking note of some pecularities, directed the conversion of the convictions from S. 302 (read with S. 34) into one under s. 326 (read 303 with’s. 34) IPC and, consequently, pared down the punishment awarded  to the co-accused into rigorous imprisonment for  8 years.   The  third accused, the appellant  before  us,  was shown  consideration for his tender age of 12 years (at  the time  of commission of the crime) and the, court, in a  mood of  compassion,  softened  the  sentence  on  the  boy  into rigorous imprisonment for 4 years. A  close-up  of  the  participatory  role  of  the  youthful offender, as distinguished from that of his elder  brothers, discloses  a junior partnership for him.  For,  argued  Shri Goburdhan, while accused 1 and 2 caused the fatal stabs, the appellant  was found to have inflicted superficial  cuts  on the  victim  with a sharp weapon, probably  angered  by  the episode of an earlier attack on their father, induced by the stress  of  the reprisal urge and spurred by  his  brothers’ rush after the foe, but all the same definitely helping them in   their  aggression.   That  he  was  too  infantine   to understand the deadly import of the sword blows he delivered is   obvious;  that  he  inflicted  lesser  injuries  of   a superficial  nature is proved; that he, like the other  two, chased  and chopped and took to his heels, is evident.   The immature  age of the offender, the fraternal  company  which circumstanced his involvement, the degree of intent gaged by the  depth of the wounds he caused and the other facts  sur- rounding  the  occurrence, should persuade us to  hold  that this juvenile was guilty-not of deayh-dealing  brutality-but of naughty criminality, in a violent spree.  Measured by his intent and infancy, his sinister part in the macabre offence

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ran  upto  infliction  of  injury  with  a  cutting   weapon attracting  s.  324 IPC, not more.  Such was  the  mecaronic submission  of counsel anxious to press for  an  extenuatory exoneration from incarceration. This  mix-up  of  degree  of  culpability  and  quantum   of punishment  is unscientific and so we have first to fix  the appellant’s guilt under the Penal Code and then turn to  the punitory   process.   Criminality  comes   first,   humanist sentence next. Ordinarily,  the  vernier scale of a man’s mens rea  is  the pragmatic one of the reasonable and probable consequences of his  act.  The weapon he has used, the situs of the  anatomy on  which  be  has inflicted the injury and  the  like,  are inputs.   If that be the mental standard of  the  turpitude, the  offender’s faculty of understanding becomes  pertinent. Man  is a rational being and law is a system  of  behavioral cybernetics  where noetic niceties, if pressed too far,  may defeat  its  societal efficacy.  So,  except  in  pronounced categories, which we will advert to presently, the intent is spelt  out  objectively by the rough-and-ready test  of  the prudent  man  and not with psychic sensitivity  to  retarded individuals.   Viewed  in this  perspective,  the  materials present in the case, especially the medical evidence,  shows that  this  young offender armed himself like  his  brothers with a cutting instrument and set upon the victim using  the sword on his neck.  The autopsy evidence discloses that  the injuries  caused by the appellant were not the lethal  ones; but  multiple sword cuts on the neck of a man, leave  little room for doubt in the ordinary run of cases as to the intent of  the  assailant.   When three persons,  swords  in  hand, attack  a  single  individual, fell him on  the  ground  and strike on his neck and skull several times with a sharp 304 weapon,  it is not caressing but killing, in all  conscience and  commonsense.  The turpitude cannot be  attenuated,  and the  inference  is  inevitable that the  least  the  parties sought  to  execute was to endanger the life of  the  target person.   In  this light, the malefic  contribution  of  the appellant to the crime is substantially the same as that  of the other two. When  a  crime  is committed by the concerted  action  of  a plurality of persons constructive liability implicates  each participant,   but  the  degree  of  criminality  may   vary depending  not only on the injurious sequel but also on  the part   played  and  the  circumstances  present,  making   a personalised  approach with reference to each.   Merely  be- cause  of  the fatal outcome, even  those  whose  intention, otherwise made out to be far less than homicidal, cannot, by hindsight  reading,  be  meant to have had  a  murderous  or kindred  mens  rea.  We have, therefore, to consider  in  an individualised  manner the circumstances of the  involvement of the appelant, his nonage and expectation of consequences. When  a  teenager, tensed by his elders or provoked  by  the stone-hit on the head of his father, avenges with  dangerous sticks or swords, copying his brothers, we cannot altogether ignore  his  impaired  understanding,  his  tender  age  and blinding environs and motivations causatory of his crime. It is common ground that the appellant was twelve years  old at the time of the occurrence.  At common law in England, as noticed  by  Archbold  in Criminal  Pleading,  Evidence  and Practice,  a  child under 14 years is presumed not  to  have reached  the age of discretion and to be doli  incapax;  but this  presumption  may be rebutted by  strong  and  pregnant evidence of a mischievous discretion... for the capacity  to commit  crime,  do evil and contract guilt, is not  so  much

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measured  by  years  and  days as by  the  strength  of  the delinquent’s understanding and judgment. Cross  & Jones in ’An Introduction to Criminal Law’ state  : "It is conclusively presumed that no child under the age  of ten years can be guilty of any offence; a child of ten years or  over, but under the age of fourteen, is presumed  to  be incapable of committing a crime, but this presumption may be rebutted  by  evidence  of  ’mischievous  discretion’  i.e., knowledge that what was done was morally wrong." R. V.  Owen (1830) 4 C & P. 236.  Cross & Jones further state : "The re- buttable  presumption  of innocence in the case  of  persons between  the  age  of  ten  and  fourteen  is  still  wholly dependent  on the common law.  The Crown cannot, as in  most other  cases, rely on the actus reus  as evidence  of  mens rea;  other  evidence  that  the child  knew  it  was  doing something  morally wrong must be adduced." : R.  v.  Kershaw (1902) 18 T.L.R. 357. In  English  Law,  when an adolescent is.  charged  with  an offence, the prosecution has to prove more than the presence of a guilty mind but must go further to make out that  ’when the  boy did the act, he knew that he was doing what  wrong- not  merely  what  was wrong but  what  was  gravely  wrong, seriously wrong’ (emphasis added). Adult  intent, automatically attributed to infant  mens,  is itself  an  adult  error.  It is  everyday  experience  that little boys as a class have 305 less  responsible appreciation of dangers to  themselves  or others by injurious acts and so it is that the new  penology in many countries immunises crimes committed by children  of and below ten years of age and those between the ages of  10 and  14  are ’in a twilight zone in which they  are  morally responsible  not  as a class, but as individuals  when  they know  their act to be wrong.  The Indian Penal  Code,  which needs updating in many portions, extends total immunity upto the age of seven (s. 82) and partial absolution upto the age of twelve (s. 83).  The latter provision reads :               "83.  Nothing is an offence which is done by a               child  above  seven  years of  age  and  under               twelve,   who  has  not  attained   sufficient               maturity  of  understanding to  judge  of  the               nature and consequences of his conduct on that               occasion. The  venal  solicitude of the law for  vernal  offenders  is essentially  a modern sensitivity of penology although  from the  Code of Hammurabi, the days of the Hebrews and  vintage English  law, this clement disposition is  a  criminological heritage,  marred,  of  course, by  some  periods  and  some countries.   Dr.  Siddique  mentions that  there  have  been instances  in  England where children of tender  years  were given death sentences like the case where two kids of  eight or nine years were given ,capital punishment for stealing  a pair of shoes (p. 127, Criminology: Problems & Perspectives, by  Ahmad Siddique : Eastern Book Co.). At least as  mankind is  approaching the International Year of the Child  (1979), the  Indian  legal  system must be  sensitized  by  juvenile justice.   This conscientious consciousness prompted  us  to counsel    to examine   the   statutory   position    and criminological  projects  in the ’child’ area.   We  had  to make-do  with  what assistance we got but hope that  when  a near-pubescent accused is marched into a criminal court, the Bench and the Bar will be alerted about jus juvenalis, if we may  so  call  it.   The compassion of  the  penal  law  for juvenescents  cannot  be  reduced to  jejunity  by  forensic indifference  since the rule of law lives by  law-in-action,

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not law in the books.  Unfortunately, at no stage, from  the charge-sheet   to  the  petition  for  special  leave,   has awareness  of  s.  83 of the Panel Code,  the  Probation  of Offenders  Act, 1958 or the Bihar Children Act,  1970,  been shown in this case.  May be, the offence charged being under s.  302  IPC  and the guilt ultimately  found  being  of  an offence punishable with life imprisonment, account for  this non-consideration.   Even  so, justice to  juvenile  justice desiderates more from a lively judicial process. Back  to Hiralal Mallick and his crime and punishment.   Was he  guilty under s. 326 IPC as the High Court has found,  or was  he liable only under s. 324 as Shri Goburdhun urges  He was twelve; he wielded a sword; he struck on the neck of the deceased;  he rushed to avenge; he ran away like  the  rest. No  evidence  as  to  whether  he  was  under twelve,   as conditioned by s. 83 IPC is adduced; no attention to  feeble understanding  or youthful frolic is addressed.  And we  are past  the judicial decks where factual questions  like  this can be investigated.  The prima facie inference of intent to endanger the life of the deceased with a sharp weapon stands unrebutted.   Indeed,  robust realism  easily  imputes  doli capax to a twelver who cuts on the neck of another with 306 a sword; for, if he does not know this to be wrong or likely to  rip  open a vital part he must be very abnormal  and  in greater  need  of judicial intervention  for  normalisation. The  conviction  under  S.  326,  IPC,  therefore,  must  be reluctantly  sustained.   When such is the  law,  we  cannot innovate  to  attenuate, submit to spasmodic  sentiment,  or ride an unregulated benevolence.  We cannot forget  Benjamin Cardozo’s  caveat that "the Judge, even when he is free,  is still not wholly free’.  Fettered by the law, we uphold  the conviction. Now  to the issue of ’sentence’.  Guidelines for  sentencing are  difficult to prescribe and more difficult to  practice. Justice Henry Alfred McCardie succinctly puts it               "Trying a man is easy, as easy as falling  off               a log, compared with deciding what to do  with               him  when  he has been found  guilty."(1)  (p.               362) Speaking broadly, the ultimate desideratum of most sentences is  ’to  make an offender a non-offender.   Only  as  judges impose effective sentences with a proper attitude and manner will they perform their expected function of decreasing  the rising  number of criminal and quasi-criminal activities  in this nation’ (p. 364) (1) Penal humanitarianism has come  to assert itself, although Sir Winston Churchill put the  point of the common man and of the judge with forceful clarity               "The mood and temper of the public with regard               to the treatment of crime and criminals is one               of   the   most   unfailing   tests   of   the               civilization of any country. (p. 68) (1) By  that  unfailing  test we fail, if  we  betray  brutality towards  children and burke the human hope of  tomorrow  and the current trust in our hands and hearts.  So it is that in the  words of the Archbishop of York in the House of  Lords’ debate in 1965 :               "Society  must  say, through its  officers  of               law,  that  it  repudiates  certain  acts   as               utterly  incompatible with  civilized  conduct               and that it will exact retribution from  those               who  violate its ordered code. . . " (p. 1  8)               (1) It is a badge of our humanist culture that we hold fast to a national  youth  policy  in criminology.   The  dignity  and

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divinity,  the  self-worth and creative potential  of  every individual  is a higher value of the Indian people;  special protection  for children is a constitutional guarantee  writ into  Art.  15(3) and 39(f).  Therefore, without  more,  our judicial processes and sentencing paradigms must lead kindly light  along  the correctional way.  That  is  why  Gandhiji emphasized  the hospital setting, the patient’s  profile  in dealing  with  ’criminals’.   In-patient,  out-patient   and domiciliary  treatment  with  curative  orientation  is  the penological  reverence  to  the Father  of  the  Nation.   A necessary  blossom  of  this  ideology  is  the  legislative development  of  criminological pediatrics.  And yet  it  is deeply regrettable that in Bihar, the land of the Buddha-the beacon-light whose compassion encompassed all living beings- the delinquent child is inhospitably treated.  Why did this (1)  All   quotations  from  ’Sentencing   and   Probation’- Published by National College of the State Judiciary,  Reno, Nevada, U.S.A.). 307 finer  consciousness  of juvenile justice not  dawn  on  the Bihar  legislators  and government.  Why did the  State  not pass  a Children Act through its elected members ?  And  one blushes to think that a belated Children Act, passed in 1970 during  President’s rule, was allowed to lapse   Today,  may be,  the barbarity of tender-age offenders being  handcuffed like  adult  habituals, trooped into  the  crowded  criminal court  in  hurtful humiliation and  escorted  by  policemen, tried  along  with  adults attended  by  court  formalities, survives  in  that hallowed State; for,  counsel  for  Bihar surprised  us  with the statement that there now  exists  no Children Act in that State.  With all our boasts and all our hopes,  our nation can never really be decriminalized  until the  crime  of punishment of the young  deviants  is  purged legislatively,  administratively  and  judicatively.    This twelve-year old delinquent would have had a holistic  career ahead,  instead of being branded a murderer, had a  Children Act refined the Statute Book and the State set up Children’s Courts  and  provided for healing the psyche of  the  little human. Conceptually,   the  establishment  of  a   welfare-oriented jurisdiction   over  juveniles  is  predicated   and   over- judicialisation and over-formalisation of court  proceedings is contraindicated.  Correctionally speaking, the perception of  delinquency  as indicative of  the  person’s  underlying difficulties, inner tensions and explosive stresses  similar to  those  of maladjusted children,  the-belief  that  court atmosphere  with  forensic  robes, gowns  and  uniforms  and contentious  disputes and frowning paraphernalia like  docks and  stands  and crowds and other criminals marched  in  and out,  are  psychically traumatic  and  socially  astigmatic, argues in favour of more informal treatment by a free mix of professional and social workers and experts operating within the framework of the law.  There is a case to move away from the  traditional  punitive  strategies  in  favour  of   the nourishing  needs of juveniles being supplied by means of  a treatment-oriented  perspective.   This  radicalisation  and humanisation  of jus juvenalis has resulted  in  legislative projects  which  jettison  procedural  rigours  and  implant informal  and  flexible measures of freely  negotiated  non- judicial  settlement of cases.  These advances  in  juvenile criminology  were reflected inter alia in the Children  Act, 1960. The  rule  of law in a Welfare State has to  be  operational and,   if  the  State,  after  a  make-believe   legislative exercise,  is too insouciant even to bring it into force  by

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a,  simple  notification,  or renew it after  its  one  year brevity,  it amounts to a breach of faith with the  humanism of our supreme lex, an abandonment of the material and moral well-being promised to, the children of the country in  Art. 39(f)  and a subtle discrimination between child  and  child depending  on  the State where it is  tried.   We  hopefully speak  for the neglected child and wish that Bihar  and,  if there  are  other  States placed in  a  similar  dubiety  or dilemma,  they  too-did make haste to legislate  a  Children Act, set up the burial and other infrastructure and give  up retributivism   in  favour  of  restorative  arts   in   the jurisdiction  of young deviants.  Often, the sinner  is  not the  boy or girl but the broken or indigent family  and  the indifferent and elitist society.  The law has a heart-or, at least, must 308 have.   Mr.  Justice Fortas, speaking for the  U.S.  Supreme Court in Kent v. United States, said               "There  may  be grounds of  concern  that  the               child receives the worst of both worlds;  that               he  gets  neither the protection  accorded  to               adults    nor   the   solicitous   care    and               regenerative    treatment    postulated    for               children."               [383,   U.S.  541,  556  (1966),   quoted   in               Siddique, supra, p. 149] The Indian child must have a new deal. Now  we move on to a realistic appraisal of  the  situation. The  absence  of a Children Act leads to a  search  for  the probation  provisions as alternative methods of  prophylaxis and  healing.  In 1951, the UNESCO recommended a  policy  of probation  as a major instrument of  therapeutic  forensics. Far  more comprehensive than S. 562 of the Code of  Criminal Procedure, the Indian Act still leaves room for  improvement in philosophy, application, education and periodical  review through  Treatment Tribunals, to mention but a few.  We,  as judger.,  are  concerned  with the law as it  is.   And  one should  have thought that counsel in the courts below  would have   pleaded,  when  the  appellant  was  convicted,   for probationary  liberation.  The decisive date for fixing  the age under S. 6 is when the youth is found guilty.  But  here the  offence  charged is one punishable with death  or  life imprisonment and the crime proved at the High Court level is one  punishable with life-term.  The Act therefore does  not apply.   We venture to suggest that in marginal  cases  this age-punishability  rigidity  works hardship  but  making  or modifying  laws belongs to the Legislature.  Even so,  Chief Justice  Sikri complained, inaugurating the  Probation  Year (1971)               "...   But is it enough to pass a law and  say               that  probation  is a good thing  ?  Not  only               should  the  serious  student  and   Probation               Officers  be convinced of its  advantages  but               the Judiciary and the Bar must also become its               votaries.   Unfortunately  at  present,   very               little  serious  attention  is  paid  to  this               aspect  by  the Judiciary and the Bar.   As  a               matter of fact I was shocked to see that in  a               number  of  cases, which came to  the  Supreme               Court  recently,  even the  existence  of  the               local  Probation  of  Offenders  Act  was  not               known, or easily ascertainable.  No  reference               to the relevant Probation Act was made in  the               court  below but the point was for  the  first               time taken in the grounds for special leave to

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             appeal to the Supreme Court."               "It  seems to me that if an accused person  is               likely  to be covered by the Act, and his  age               appears to be about 21, efforts should be made               by the investigating agency or the prosecuting               counsel to collect material regarding the age.               309               You are all aware that the exact age is  known               to very few persons in rural areas.               I also think that a Magistrate should  himself               try  this  question  early, if  there  is  any               possibility   of  the  applicability  of   the               Probation of Offenders Act."               (Social  Defence  : Vol.  VII,  No.  25,  July               1971-Quarterly review published by the Central               Bureau of Correctional Services, Department of               Social Welfare, Government of India).               We  repeat that liberal use of the law is  its               life. Anyway,  now  that probation also is out of  the  way,  what incarceratory  impost  is just ? ’Prison  should  serve  the purposes   of  confining  people,  not  of  punishing   them (Justinian).  As the ’Guidelines for Sentencing’  published by the National Probation and Parole Association, New  York, 1957 states :               "Imprisonment is the appropriate sentence when               the   offender  must  be  isolated  from   the               community in order to protect society or if he               can  learn  to  readjust  his  attitudes   and               patterns   of  behavior  only  in  a   closely               controlled environment." So  we come up to the harm of long shut-up behind the  bars. Subjected to hard labour that rigorous imprisonment  implies and  exposed  to the deleterious company of  hardened  adult criminals, a young person, even if now twentyone, returns  a worse  man,  with more vices and vengeful  attitude  towards society.   This is self-defeating from the correctional  and deterrent angles. How then shall we rehabilitate this youth who has stood nine years of criminal proceedings, suffered some prison life and has  the prospect of hardening years ahead ? This is  not  a legal  problem for traditional methods. A vehement  critic, in  overzealous emphasis, once said what may be  exaggerated but carries a point which needs the attention of the,  Bench and the Bar.  H. Barnes wrote :               "The  diagnosis and treatment of the  criminal               is a highly technical medical and sociological               problem  for  which the lawyer is  rarely  any               better  fitted than a real estate agent  or  a               plumber.   We shall ultimately come  to  admit               that  society has been unfortunate in  handing               over  criminals to lawyers and judges  in  the               past as it once was in entrusting medicine  to               shamans   and  astrologers,  and  surgery   to               barbers.   A  hundred  years  ago  we  allowed               lawyers and judges to have the same control of               the  insane classes as they still  exert  over               the criminal groups, but we now recognize that               insanity  is a highly diversified and  complex               medical  problem which we entrust to  properly               trained experts in the field of neurology  and               psychiatry.   We  may  hope  that  in  another               hundred  years the treatment of  the  criminal               will  be  equally  thoroughly  and   willingly               submitted   to   medical   and    sociological

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             experts." (p.  74, Sentencing and Probation, supra) 3 10 We   have  to  turn  to  correctional   and   rehabilitative directions while confirming   the four-year term.  We affirm the period of the sentence since there  is   no   particular reason why a very short term should be awarded.   When     a young person is being processed correctionally, a sufficient restorative period to heal the psychic wounds is  necessary. From that angle  also a term which is neither too short  nor too long will be the     optimum   to  be  adopted  by   the sentencing  judge.   How ever, the more  sensitive  question turns on how, behind the prison walls, behavioral techniques can  be  built  in to repair the distortions  of  his  mind. Stressologists  tell  us,  by  scientific  and  sociological research,  that  the cause of crime in most cases  is  inner stress,  mental disharmony and unresolved tension.  In  this very  case, the lad of twelve was tensed into  irresponsible sword play as a result of fraternal provocation and paternal injury.   It is, therefore, essential that  the  therapeutic orientation  of the prison system, vis a vis the  appellant, must be calculated to release stresses, resolve tensions and restore inner balance. This  is  too complicated a question and, in  some  measure, beyond  the  judicial expertise, so that we have  to  borrow tools  and  techniques  from  specialists,  researchers  and sociologists.  The ancient admonition of the Rigveda, (’Let  noble  thoughts come to us  from  every  side-Rigveda 1-89-i) is a good guideline here.  From Lenin and Gandhi  to leading  sociologists, criminologists and  prison-management officials,   it   is   established   that   work    designed constructively and curatively, with special reference to the needs of the person involved, may have a healing effect  and change  the  personality  of  the  quondam  criminal.    The mechanical  chores and the soulless work performed  in  jail premises  under the coercive presence of the prison  wanders and  without reference to relaxation or relish may often  be counter-productive.  Even the apparel that the convict wears burns  into him humiliatingly, being a distinguishing  dress constantly  reminding him that he is not an  ordinary  human but  a criminal.  We, therefore, take the view  that  within the   limits  of  the  prison  rules  obtaining  in   Bihar, reformatory  type  of  work should  be  prescribed  for  the appellant  in consultation with the medical officer  of  the jail.   The  visiting team of the Central  Prison  will  pay attention  to see that this directive is carried  out.   The appellant,  quite  a young man, who was but a boy  when  the offence  was committed, shall not be forced to wear  convict costume  provided  his guardians supply  him  normal  dress. These  harsh obscurantism must gradually be eroded from  our jails  by  the humanizing winds that blow  these  days.   We mentioned about stressfully.  One method of reducing tension is by providing for vital links between the prisoner and his family.  A prisoner insulated from the world becomes bestial and,  if his family ties are snapped for long,  becomes  de- bumanised.    Therefore  we  regard  it  as   correctionally desirable  that this appellant be granted parole and  expect the  authorities  to  give  consideration  to  paroling  out periodically  prisoner-,, particularly of, the present  type for  reasonable  spells, subject  to  sufficient  safeguards ensuring  their  prober behavior outside and  prompt  return inside. 311 More positive efforts are needed to make the man whole,  and this takes us to the domain of mind culture.

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Modern  scientific  studies  have  validated  ancient  vedic insights  bequeathing to mankind new meditationa. yogic  and other therapeutics, at once secular, empirically tested  and trans-religious.    The   psychological,   physiologic   and sociological   experiments  conducted  on  the  effects   of Transcendental  Meditation (TM, for short) have proved  that this  science of creative intelligence, in its  meditational applications,  transquillises the tense inside,  helps  meet stress   without   distress,  overcome   inactivations   and instabilities and by holistic healing normalises the severed and  fatigued man.  Rehabilitation of  psychatric  patients, restoration  of  juvenile offenders, augmentation  of  moral tone and temper and, more importantly, improvement of social behaviour  of  prisoners  are  among  the  proven   findings recorded  by researchers.  Extensive studies of TM  in  many prisons  in the U.S.A. Canada, Germany and  other  countries are reported to have yielded results of improved creativity, higher  responsibility and better behaviour.  Indeed, a  few trial   courts   in  the,  United   States   have   actually prescribed(1) TM as a recipe for rehabilitation.  As Dr.  M. P.   Pai,  Principal  of  the  Kasturba   Medical   College, Mangalore, has put down               "Meditation  is a science and this  should  be               learnt  under  guidance  and  cannot  be  just               picked  up from books.  Objective  studies  on               the  effects of meditation on human  body  and               mind  is  a modern observation  and  has  been               studied  by  various  investigation  at  MERU-               Maharishi  European Research University.   Its               tranquillising   effect  on  body  and   mind,               ultimately  leading  to  he  greater  goal  of               Cosmic  Consciousness or universal  awareness,               has  been  studied  by using  over  a  hundred               parameters.      Transcendental     Meditation               practised  for 15 minutes in the  morning  and               evening  every  day  brings about  a  host  of               beneficial effects.  To name only a few :               1.    Body and mind gets into a state of  deep               relaxation.               2.    -B.   M.  R.  drops,  less   oxygen   is               consumed.               3.    E.E.G.  shows brain wave coherence  with               ’alpha’ wave preponderance.               4.    Automatic stability increases.               5.    Normalisation of high blood pressure.               6.    Reduced use of alcohol and tobacco.               7.    Reduced  stress, hence decreased  plasma               cortisol and blood lactate.               8.    Slowing of the heart etc. 1.   In the Superior Court of the State of  Arizona-judgment d/5-3-76 in State of Arizona v. Jean Boston Presley-Case No. 6878; Criminal  Action No. 4-81750 in the U.S. District Court  for Eastern  District  of Michigan-United States of  America  v. Robert Charles Rusch Jr. 312               The self of every man has been found to be his               consciousness, and its full potential is found               in   the state  of  least   excitation   of               consciousness,  which  is the most  simple  of               awareness.               To  sum  up, inadequacy of  ’alpha’  waves  is               disease,  and mental health could be  restored               by  increasing ’alpha’ wave production in  the               cerebral  hemisphere instead of other type  of

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             waves  seen in disease.  Five years’  research               has’ given encouraging results, and more  work               in  this field is being done and  results  are               awaited."               Lecture   on  ’Ancient  Insights  and   Modern               Discoveries  delivered under the  auspices  of               Bharatiya  Vidhya  Bhavan  sponsored   two-day               symposium-Published in Bhavan’s journal d/July               17,  1977 : P. 57 under the caption: The  Mind               of Man : Importance of Mental Health. A  recent Article on TM and the Criminal Justice  System  in the Kentucky Law Journal and another one in the Maryland Law Forum  highlight the potency of TM in the field of  criminal rehabilitation  (Kentucky L. J. Vol. 60, 1971-72 No. 2;  and University  of Maryland Law Forum, Vol. 111, No.  2,  Winter 1973).    There   is   no  reason,  prima   facie,   if   TM physiologically  produces a deep state of restful  alertness which rejuvenates and normalises the functioning of the ner- vous  system,  to reject the conclusion of  David  E.  Sykes which he has summarized thus               "Physiologically,  T.M. produces a deep  state               of  restful  alertness which  rejuvenates  and               normalizes  the  functioning  of  the               nervous system.               Psychologically,   T.  M.  eliminates   mental               stress, promotes clearer thinking and  greater               comprehension;    it   enriches    perception,               improves  outlook and promotes efficiency  and               effectiveness in life.               Sociologically,  T. M. eliminates tension  and               discordance  and promotes more harmonious  and               fulfilling  interpersonal relationships,  thus               making every individual more useful to himself               and  others  and bringing  fulfilment  to  the               purpose of society.               The combined physiological, psychological  and               sociological changes produce an overall effect               of  fullness  of  life.   The  elimination  of               mental, physical and behavioral  abnormalities               through the release of deep stress produces  a               sense of fulfilment and internal hartnony.  It               is  interesting to note that this  development               of  life in increasing values  of  contentment               and  fulfilment  has long been  understood  in               terms  of  spiritual  development.   With  the               tools   of   modern  science,   we   can   now               systematically  evaluate the objective  causes               and   expressions  of  this  inner,   personal               development    produced   by    transcendental               meditation." 313 It has been repeatedly pointed out in the literature bearing on  the  subject that TM is just not religion, and  is  like physics applied to human consciousness.  Even so, it is  not for  the court, at the present stage, to prescribe what  the prison authorities should do with the appellant while he  is in  their charge.  Nevertheless, we emphasize how  important it  is for the prison department to explore, experiment  and organize  gradually some of these reformative  exercises  in order to eliminate recidivism and induce rehabilitation.  We make these observations in the expectation that,  facilities being   available   and   the   prisoner’s   consent   being forthcoming,  he will be given, under proper initiation  and medical   authorisation,  courses  which  will  refine   his behaviour,  develop his full potential and  thereby  justify

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the justice of his forced tenancy for four years. An afterword on power.  Within the limits of the Prison  Act and  rules,  there  is room for  reform  of  the  prisoner’s progress.   And  the  court,  whose  authority  to  sentence deprives  the sentence of his constitutional freedoms  to  a degree,  has  the power-indeed, the duty to  invigorate  the intramural  man-management  so that the citizen  inside  has spacious  opportunity to unfold his potential  without  over such  inhibition  or sadistic  overseeing.   No  traditional judicial  hand off doctrine nor Prison  department’s  Monroe doctrine can dissuade or disentitle this Court from  issuing directives,  consistently  with  law,  for  the  purpose  of compelling  the institutional confinement to conform to  the spirit and standards of the fundamental rights which  belong to the man walled off.  We cannot, in all conscience,  order him  to  be  shut up and forget  about  him.   The  breading presence of judical vigilance is the institutional price  of prison justice. We  have  son  journed in the  sentencing  chapter  of  this judgment  for  so  long,  our  anxiety  being  to  work  out purposeful  incarceration  shot  with  just  and   effective prescription.   Red-hot rhetoric or flaming  recommendations can  have  no  more  than  romantic  value  since  statutory authority  is the only sanction behind a court’s  directive. So we requested counsel to search for the sections and rules under  the Prisons Act bearing on  constructive  correction- oriented  orders the Court has power to pass.   Counsel  for the State drew our attention to the vintage measures lost in the statute book like the Reformatory Schools Act as well as the  Borstal  Schools  Act,  apart  from  the  Probation  of Offenders  Act and the rules under these laws.   This  study has  served  only  to  convince  us  that,  while  statutory guidelines  to fix the quantum of punishment are  marked  by uncanalised  fuidity,  the  court’s  correctional  role   in meaningful  sentencing is marginal, justifying judge  Marvin E.  Frankel’s  cynical expression-Criminal Sentences  :  Law without Order.  The Rai prisons continue gerentologically in their   grimy  grimness;  the  dress,  diet,   bed,   drill, Organisation  and  discipline why, even the  philosophy  and fears-have  hardly responded to rehabilitative  penology  or humane  decency.  Indeed, it is still an attitude  of  ’lock them up and throw away the key’, save for some casual  ’open Jail’   experiments   and  radical   phrases   in   academic literature.   We  omit the Chambal oasis where  changes  are being  tried out.  And this is a startling anti-climax  when we  remember that our Freedom Struggle had found nearly  all post-Independence leaders 314 in wrathful incarceration and most India Ministers, now  and before, had been no strangers to prison torments.  The time, has  come,  for  reform  of  the  sentencing  process   with flexibility,  humanity,  restoration  and  periodic   review informing the system and involving the court in the  healing directions  and  corrections affecting  the  sentence  where judicial  power  has cast into the ’cage’.  For  the  nonce, however,  we,, as judges, have to work within the law as  it now stands. And we  cannot impose what is not sanctioned  or is not accepted by the State.      So  we have couched  what would have been binding man dates in terms of hopeful  half- imperatives.  Subject to the observations regarding imprison and  parole  treatment  of the  appellant,  we  dismiss  the appeal. GOSWAMI,  J.-I agree that there is no merit in  this  appeal which is dismissed. My learned Brother has dealt with both the lethargy in  law-

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making  and indifference and indolence in implementing  laws in and attractive and trenchant manner. So  far  as the post-sentencing aspects  are  concerned,  my learned Brother has gone into depth on matters which he  has studied extensively.  These will appertain to law reforms as well  as  prison  forms  which the  I  legislature  and  the implementing executive can profitably undertake.  I hope and trust   that  my  learned  Brother’s  earnest  and   anxious observations  in  this  judgment will not be a  cry  in  the wilderness. M.R. Appeal dismissed. 3 15