A Critique on Sentencing Policy with reference to Vehicular Homicide Cases in India

Adnan Irshad

doi:10.48001/veethika.2022.08.02.002

Adnan Irshad St. Thomas’ College of Law, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.48001/veethika.2022.08.02.002

Keywords: Vehicular homicide, just deserts, sentencing policy

Abstract

The importance of the topic is highlighted, from the very fact that culpability is set according to the level of blameworthiness on the part of accused. This blameworthiness is known as guilty mind or to be more precise a blameworthy state of mind. There are many degrees or kinds of mens rea, with their corresponding levels of culpability like Intention, knowledge, recklessness, negligence, etc. The punishment decreases as the mens rea fall the ladder. The importance of mens rea in criminal jurisprudence is again stressed by the maxim “Actus reus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea” which implies that “The act itself does not constitute guilt unless done with a guilty intent". Due to this elusiveness of Mens Rea, there is a disproportionate sentencing by the Courts which gives rise to injustice and violation of basic human rights and dignity of the victim. The paper shall decipher various issues pertaining to mens rea in Vehicular Homicide Cases and shall endeavour to come with suggestions to curb this menace.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ashutosh, “Punishment for Causing Death by Rash or Negligent Driving under Section 304 A – IPC and Morality” 2 IJLS 135 (2011).

Eric. H. Banerji, “Strict Responsibility” in Chandrasekaran Pillai, Shabistan Aquil et.al.(eds.) , Essays on Indian Penal Code 91 – 100 ( ILI, 2005) .

Francis Bowes Sayre “Mens Rea” 45 Harv, L.Rev.974 – 1026 (2013).

J.W.C. Turner, “The Mental Element in Crimes at Common Law” 6 CLJ 31 – 66 (1936).

Kadish Sanford, “The Decline of Innocence”, 26 Cambridge Law Journal, 273(1982).

Kellen Mark, “Interpretive Construction in the Substantive Criminal Law”, XXI SLR 591-595(1981).

Paul H. Robinson “Mens Rea” XXXIII University of Chicago Law Review 10 -15 (1999).

Robinson, “Element Analysis in Defining Criminal Liability: The Model Penal Code and Beyond”, 35 Stanford Law Review, 681-683 (1983).

Robinson Paul, “Should the Criminal Law Abandon the Actus Reus- Mens Rea Distinction?” 16Cambridge Law Journal 211(1998).

Stanley Meng Heong Yeo “Recklessness under the Indian Penal Code”, 30 JILI 293 -308 (1988)