Public shaming of alleged thieves ‘Taliban-style punishment’: HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asserted that the act of hanging placards around the necks of alleged thieves, blackening their faces, parading them in public and making their video viral amounted to a “Taliban-style punishment”.

The assertion came as the Bench of Justice Namit Kumar dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Ludhiana factory owner Parvinder Singh. He, along with the co-accused, was facing allegations of subjecting his employees, including minors and women, to public humiliation over alleged theft of clothes.

Justice Kumar said, “This act is not an acceptable human act by any stretch of imagination rather it was an act of ‘Taliban-style punishment’ by taking the law in their own hands and not realising that such an act may affect and tarnish the social image of the victims, out of whom some are girls and even minor.”

The incident came to light after a video went viral on social media, showing three girls, an elderly woman and a boy with blackened faces and white placards around their necks reading, “I am a thief, I confess my guilt”. Rejecting the pre-arrest bail plea, Justice Kumar asserted that the act might also “spoil their future by lowering their reputation and image before the society at large, which is a serious concern”.

“Keeping in view the gravity of the offence, no ground is made out to grant concession of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, as his custodial interrogation is required for recovery of his mobile phone and NVR/DVR installed in his factory,” Justice Kumar added.

“If the petitioner chooses to surrender before the trial court within 10 days from today and moves an appropriate application seeking regular bail, the trial court in such eventuality shall consider and decide the same in accordance with law,” Justice Kumar concluded.