57.1 Against Acting with Cruelty

 57.1 Against Acting with Cruelty

Question:

              How should a criminal be punished?

Answer:

A king should analyze the crime that was committed,

should make inquiries, and impose punishments appropriate

      to the gravity of the crime, and ensure the prevention of such crimes.     (Couplet – 561)

தக்காங்கு நாடித் தலைச்செல்லா வண்ணத்தால்

ஒத்தாங்கு ஒறுப்பது வேந்து.                                                              (குறள் – 561)

Explanation:

         What Valluvar says for a king is equally applicable to all those who have the authority to judge and sentence people who have committed a crime. The judges should analyze the nature of the crime, the situation under which the crime was committed, and the background of the criminal. The punishment should be appropriate to the seriousness of the crime. Also, the penalty must have the potential to reform the criminal so that he might not commit additional crimes.