Allahabad HC judge suggests 'death penalty' for corruption while hearing Ram mandir theft case

Justice Atul Sreedharan of the Allahabad High Court issued scathing observations on "bulldozer justice" and rampant corruption while delivering a 51-page opinion in a split verdict. He remarked that the recent theft of offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya represented the lowest level of Indian integrity, stating that nothing can shame a society that remains unfazed by such an incident. He added that systemic corruption has normalized dishonesty across institutions, noting that India's 91st rank out of 182 nations in the Transparency International 2025 report fails to evoke shame.

Highlighting how deeply entrenched corruption has become, Justice Sreedharan suggested that Parliament and the government should consider amending the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, to introduce the death penalty for those convicted of corruption. He observed that corrupt practices by authorities facilitate unauthorized constructions, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable to sudden punitive enforcement actions years later.

Addressing state-led demolitions, Justice Sreedharan stated that demolishing houses immediately following criminal accusations is primarily intended to satisfy the perceived bloodlust of a society fed on summary justice. He proposed additional safeguards, including a two-year bar on demolishing an accused person's home after an FIR. However, with bench partner Justice Siddharth Nandan dissenting on creating rules beyond Supreme Court guidelines, the matter has been referred to the Chief Justice for a third judge's opinion.