NEW DELHI, Dec. 7 -- Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde on Saturday condemned the practice of extrajudicial killings, saying justice loses its very character when it takes the form of revenge.
"I don't think justice can ever be and ought to be instant. And justice must never ever take the form of revenge. I believe justice loses its character of justice if it becomes revenge," Bobde said.
The CJI's observation comes amid a raging debate in India over the killing of four accused in the Telangana rape and murder case on Friday. According to police, the accused were killed after they attacked the police party which was taking them to the crime scene as part of the investigation.
Justice Bobde made the statement while addressing a function at the inauguration of the new Rajasthan high court building in Jodhpur. He took over as the head of the Indian judiciary last month.
The CJI, however, admitted the country's judicial system needed a correction.
"There is no doubt that criminal justice system must reconsider its position and attitude towards laxity and the eventual time it takes to dispose of criminal matters," he said. "There is a need in the judiciary to invoke self-correcting measures but whether or not they should be publicised is a matter of debate."
Opinions are divided in India over the way the accused were killed.
While some say the action would send out a strong message to sexual predators, others have condemned the manner in which the accused were killed without being tried in court of law.
A petition seeking a probe into the manner in which the four rape accused were killed has been filed in the Supreme Court of India.