Sir — The Sessions Court’s verdict in the Salman Khan case had established equality before law, but it also simultaneously showed the capability of the rich and resourceful. No ordinary convict could have got interim bail from the High Court within four hours of delivery of verdict by a Sessions Court. The opinion about the quantum of punishment was divided. Some found it quite in order while the other view was that, due to his celebrity status, he had been punished harshly in comparison to the punishments awarded in other hit-and-run cases.
Now, of course, the discourse will be whether the Bombay High Court did the right thing by suspending the sentence and effectively freeing the actor to lead a normal life. Justice has taken 13 long years. We also have the instances of verdicts coming in the lN Mishra murder case after 40 years, and in the Hashimpura massacre case after 28 years. This makes a mockery of our justice-delivery system and calls for radical reforms which ensure time-bound delivery of verdicts.