A city court has ordered a 23-year-old youth to perform community service at a temple as the punishment for driving his vehicle, while he was under the influence of alcohol.
The novel form of punishment was handed down to Parveen Rana, a first-time offender, since the trial court felt that awarding a jail term would have left ‘an indelible blot’ on the life and the career of the youth. Also, the court wanted him to learn his lesson through penance, not penalty. Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat who passed the sentence said that it gave the youth a chance to make up amends for his mistake. “Imprisonment at this stage would put an indelible blot on his future career.”
Further, the court observed “it is seen the sentence of imprisonment sometimes hardens the first-time offender and instead of reforming him, makes him a hardened criminal”. The judge added that the method of sentencing followed in India was based on the theory of reformation and not on retribution.
A city resident, Rana got the relief on a plea he had filed against the order of a Metropolitan Magistrate which had sentenced him to five days imprisonment for the offence.”The accused is sentenced to five days in jail for riding a two-wheeler in an inebriated state,” the July 18 order had stated.