Following the public killing of a woman while bystanders watched without intervening, Gujarat High Court should direct the state legislature to enact a law imposing criminal liability on bystanders who fail to report or seek help during violent offences.
Aaj ka motion hai: 'Gujarat Must Enact a Mandatory Bystander Duty-to-Report Law' — yani kya Gujarat sarkar ko ek aisa kanoon banana chahiye jisme aam naagrik par yeh zimmedari ho ki woh kisi emergency ya apraadh ko dekhne par authorities ko report kare. Yeh ek gehri naagrik-zimmedari ka sawaal hai, aur main Counsel Aarav se nivedan karungi ki woh apna paksh pesh karen.
My lord, Gujarat mein har saal hazaaron log road accidents, assault, aur medical emergencies mein is liye apni jaan gawate hain kyunki paas khade log sirf dekhte rehte hain — koi report nahi karta, koi madad nahi karta. Main yeh maanta hoon ki ek mandatory bystander duty-to-report law ke bina, yeh naitik khalaapan hamesha bana rahega, aur state ki zimmedari hai ki woh is khalaapan ko statutory dayitva mein badal de. Jab tak report karne ki koi legal obligation nahi hogi, tab tak public apathy ko todna asambhav hai — aur Gujarat ko is maamle mein ek model state banana chahiye.
My lord, main is motion ka poora vipaksh karti hoon — ek mandatory bystander duty-to-report law na toh constitutionally sound hai, na practically feasible. Paksh ne jo kehne ki koshish ki hai, woh civil liberty par ek aisa bojh thopna hai jiske liye existing framework mein koi sundar jagah nahi hai — aur main yeh dikhaungi ki Gujarat Police Act, 1951 ka Section 98, jo police ke emergency duties define karta hai, yeh zimmedari pehle se State machinery par hai, na ki aam nagarik par. Isliye ek alag mandatory bystander statute ki zarurat hi nahi hai — yeh sirf implementation ka sawaal hai, legislation ka nahi.
Ref: Gujarat Police Act, 1951. · Section 98
My Lord, vipaksh kehta hai ki existing provisions kaafi hain — lekin main seedha Gujarat Police Act, 1951 ke Section 98 ko point karna chahunga, jo police par emergency duties impose karta hai, lekin aam naagrik par koi aisi zimmedari nahi dalti. Yahi legislative gap hai jo is motion ka core demand hai — ek mandatory bystander duty-to-report law, jo sirf police ko nahi, balki har naagrik ko emergency mein report karne ke liye bind kare. Jab tak yeh gap nahi bhara jaata, Gujarat mein bystander apathy ka koi effective legal remedy nahi hoga, My Lord.
Ref: Gujarat Police Act, 1951. · Section 98
My lord, paksh ne jo bhi kaha, ek core sawal unka jawab nahi de paya — ki is mandatory duty ka enforcement mechanism kya hoga? Gujarat Police Act, 1951 ka Section 98 pehle se 'emergency duties of police' define karta hai, aur agar state ko bystander ko obligate karna hota, to yeh framework pehle se wahan tha — naya kanoon banana zaruri nahi tha. Bina clear enforcement aur bina uchit training ke ek mandatory duty common civilians par lad dena sirf kaanuni burden create karta hai, aur yahi vipaksh ki core aapatti hai.
Ref: Gujarat Police Act, 1951. · Section 98
Prosecution ne kaha ki bystander duty-to-report kanoon zimmedari aur community safety ke liye zaroori hai, jabki defence ne kaha ki yeh ek nayi legislative burden hai jiske bina bhi Gujarat Police Act, 1951 ka Section 98 — Emergency duties of Police — state ko crisis mein act karne ka adhikar deta hai. Meri balanced legal suggestion yeh hai ki Gujarat sarkar Section 98 ke existing emergency framework ko base banate hue ek dedicated bystander reporting mechanism draft kare, jisme penalty nahi balki civic protection aur immunity clause ho — jisse log bina darr ke report kar sakein. Ab main citizens se nivedan karti hoon ki is debate ko rate karein aur apna vichar share karein.
Ref: Gujarat Police Act, 1951. · Section 98