Jammu, Katra courts make judicial history with first-ever community service convictions
Jammu, Jan 23: In a progressive step towards reformative justice, the courts in Jammu and Katra have made judicial history by delivering the first-ever convictions mandating community service as a form of punishment, under the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, on Thursday.
The judgments, delivered in three separate cases of public misconduct by drunken individuals, mark a progressive shift toward restorative justice and community rehabilitation, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to implementing innovative sentencing measures aimed at societal betterment.
In the first case, in the court of the 3rd Additional Munsiff JMIC, Jammu, the accused, Anuj Kumar, was convicted under Section 355 of the BNS, 2023, for public misconduct in an intoxicated state.
The accused was found obstructing traffic and causing public annoyance. Judge, in his order, sentenced Anuj Kumar to one week of community service at the Community Health Centre (CHC), Dansal.
The service involves cleaning, sweeping, and mopping the health facility for three hours daily, from 9 am to 12 pm.
SHO Police Station Jhajjar Kotli has been directed to oversee compliance and submit a report with photographic evidence.
In a similar case before the same court, the accused, Pappu, was convicted for identical misconduct under Section 355 of the BNS, 2023.
He was found causing disruptions to traffic and public order. The court imposed a sentence of community service, directing the accused to clean and maintain a public park at Jhajjar Kotli for one week from 9 am to 12 pm daily.
SHO Police Station Jhajjar Kotli was tasked with ensuring compliance and reporting back to the court.
In the third case before the Sub-Judge/JMIC Court in Katra, the accused, Vijay Kumar, was convicted for causing public nuisance in a drunken state at Panthal near Fawara Chowk.
The Judge ordered Vijay Kumar to perform community service by cleaning and maintaining the park managed by the Katra Development Authority at Railway Road, Katra, for three consecutive days from 1 pm to 4 pm. The Chief Executive Officer, Katra Development Authority, was directed to oversee and report on the accused’s compliance.
“The adoption of community service as a punishment, under Section 355 of the BNS, 2023, represents a significant departure from traditional punitive measures. This forward-thinking approach emphasizes offender rehabilitation and societal contribution, fostering personal accountability, empathy, and skill development among offenders,” an official spokesperson said.
Earlier, a Police spokesperson said that the offenders Pappu and Anuj Kumar were convicted of “public intoxication and disorderly conduct”, in a case registered under the BNS, in Police Station, Jhajjar Kotli.
The incident took place on January 22, 2025, within the jurisdiction of the Jhajjar Kotli Police Station, where the two accused were found intoxicated and creating public nuisance.
“They were promptly arrested, subjected to a medical examination and presented before the CJM. Rather than imposing traditional imprisonment, the court opted for community service as a corrective measure,” the spokesperson said.
“This provision under the new criminal laws emphasizes rehabilitation and community engagement for minor offenses, promoting reform over punishment,” he pointed out, adding, “The effort by Jammu Police demonstrates a shift toward a more constructive approach in addressing public misdemeanours, setting a precedent for similar cases in the future.”