Project JANA docu-series | What is the definition of justice for non-judicial bodies?

“We don’t give judgements, we render justice,” asserts Tasvir Singh Rathi, Pradhan of a khap panchayat, and one of the voices in the video above, explaining their ideas of justice and how they’re different from that of judicial bodies. This film is a part of a documentary series Justice, Access, and the Nation’s Approaches (JANA), which examines the working of non-judicial bodies across India. Through interviews of representatives of judicial and ad hoc systems, this particular part in the documentary explores what ‘justice’ means to various judicial and non-judicial bodies. To khap leaders, justice is based on truth, tradition, and dharma. A former Pradhan of a khap says in the film, “Justice means following laws of nature and one’s own conscience, while conforming to traditions. Justice is done only when both the parties concerned are satisfied with the decision.”  Representatives of the Shiv Sena believe that justice can only be done when both parties are happy with the settlement and decisions are rendered swiftly. The film also features an interview of a retired ACP from the Mumbai police, who believes that true justice is not easily obtained, and one has to struggle for it. Talking on the behalf of judicial bodies, and the meaning of justice in that context, Justice (Retd.) Raveendran remarks in the film that principles of impartiality, fairness, equality, and compassion are those that define true justice, but only if it is delivered in a speedy and efficient manner. Harish Narasappa, lawyer and co-founder of DAKSH, states that justice refers to enforcement of rights, and redressal of any violation of these rights. This documentary series is based on a household survey conducted in 2017 by  DAKSH, a Bengaluru-based civil society organisation working to promote accountability and better governance in India. Watch the other parts of the docu-series JANA  here,   here , and here .