The punishment given by Kollam Additional Sessions court to the convicts in Peroor Ranjith Johnson case becomes the rarest among the rare ones because of the strict nature of the case.

The convicted are Manoj (48) alias Pambu Manoj of Eravipuram, Renjith (32) alias Kattunni of Nedungolam, Baiju (45) alias Kaithapuzha Unni of Poothakulam, Pranav (26) alias Kukku of Decent Junction, Vishnu (21) of Decent Junction, Vinesh (44) of Kilikoloor, Riyaz (34) of Vadakkevila. Additional District Court 4 of Kollam found the accused guilty of the crime. The court acquitted Ajimsha (37) of Kilikolloor, the accused number 8 in the case.

The court started the trial on February 13. Kilikolloor Crime SI, V Anil Kumar submitted the charge sheet on December 1, which was the 82nd day of taking the accused into custody. As the submission was within 90 days of arrest, the accused did not get bail. Later the court granted bail to accused number 8.
None of the convicts will get even parole, let alone bail. Ranjith Johnson, a pet shop owner, was abducted from his shop on August 15 by convicts, who posed themselves as his acquaintances. Later he was brutally killed inch by inch; the news about this was received with shock by the human conscience.
Moreover, this cruelty was done to a person who was their acquaintance or friend.
Under various sections of the IPC, the convicts will have to undergo 20 years’ imprisonment.
If we consider the character and manner of the crime, the convicts have been granted the punishment they deserve. Anyone one will easily get convinced about this.

Though Ranjith Johnson case was fast-tracked, there are many cases that are not likely to be completed even after years of wait.
It was only recently that six important documents submitted in the court in connection with a murder case went missing.

This happened in Thiruvananthapuram. Thampan Sreekumar murder case happened in 2006. The court had already taken exception to the prolongation of the trial even after 13 years.
Though the police had filed the charge sheet in 2007, the start of the trial is still in uncertainty.
Like this, umpteen cases are awaiting the mercy of Indian legal system. This could be the reason why fast-tracked cases make big news.
It is said that justice delayed is justice denies. But what is the use of such saying when trial and sentencing happen at snails’ pace.