Rama Krishna Sangem
BRS Rajya Sabha MP J Santosh Kumar on June 20, Tuesday, welcomed a judgment of Delhi High Court – which sentenced the accused in a criminal case to plant 10 trees each. The HC gave this as punishment to the accused in a 2017 Holi altercation case and told them to file status report with photos on their maintenance for 10 years. This novel verdict will help spread the green cause.
The judgment came when the police offered to close an FIR in the case as the two sides compromised. When the issue came up before the court, the bench delivered this innovative judgment in consultation with the investigating officer (IO). “Kudos to the Honorable judge for this remarkable verdict,” tweeted Santosh with #DelhiHighCourt, @HoliAltercationCase tags.
Interestingly, the HC directed the accused to plant 10 indigenous trees in their vicinity only, to close the FIR. The accused will have to submit photos of the trees every year, to prove that they are alive. This punishment will ensure two purposes: First, it will act on the accused as a reminder of their wrong behaviour, to fight with each other on a festival like Holi. Second, the accused will learn to grow trees, which may bring change in them.
Santosh, founder of #GreenIndiaChallenge campaign from Telangana five years ago never misses an opportunity to promote the green cause. Now it has become a nation wide call. He made thousands of people including celebs to plant saplings on special occasions in their life. He launched a campaign to promote #SeedGanesha clay idols, during 9 day long Vinayaka Chavithi festival in Hyderabad, to discourage chemical coloured ones.
Hope, we may see more judges will choose these type of innovative punishments to reform criminals as well as spread the green cause in society!
