Agartala: Former Puducherry lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi on Saturday told law students here that public trust in the rule of law weakens when laws are misused, justice is delayed and the criminal justice system falls short while speaking at the 5th Dialogue Forum, hosted by National Law University, Tripura.“The law itself was not to blame, but misuse, misreading and poor enforcement make it harder for people to get justice,” said Bedi, a former IPS officer.She advised law students and legal professionals to visit prisons to understand inmates’ living conditions and the challenges they face.Police work, prosecution, legal defence and delays in court proceedings all influence the delivery of justice, she said. “Read the law, follow the law, and you will get justice or at least remain on the right side of it without getting into trouble,” Bedi said.Bedi also spoke about prison reforms and described how education became part of the rehabilitation process through programmes set up with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).She also referred to meditation programmes and educational support for children living in the prison. She urged students to watch the documentary Doing Time, Doing Vipassana, which examines prison reform, meditation and rehabilitation.Referring to cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in Tripura, Bedi reiterated that misuse of the law, court delays and irresponsible legal practices could weaken public faith in the justice system. She said the police, prosecution, defence and judiciary must act with integrity, accept responsibility and ensure timely justice to uphold the credibility of the legal system.
