Public opinion in the wake of the Nirbhaya gang rape - Ominous signs for India

The paper examines the reaction of the public in the wake of the horrid tale of Nirbhaya. The nation experienced a strong public resentment towards the Government and Criminal Justice System, in particular. Such outburst, though an emotional and spontaneous one, indeed carried messages for the nation to sit up and take note of. It indicated the failure of the Criminal Justice Machinery in preventing the atrocity, the lack of sensitivity on the part of the officials in responding to the situation, the inadequacy of law to respond to rising crimes and most important, a societal frame with utmost apathy and disregard for women, in general. A democratic state is required to respond to public opinion since it derives its legitimacy from the people. The confidence of the public and its regard for the law is based on acceptance of the same and where the system fails to meet the expectation, they are ominous signs for the country.