DUJ critical of Judge's remarks on R K Sharma

New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) Expressing outrage over ''laudatory'' comments of the judge about murder convict R K Sharma in the Shivani Bhatnagar case, the Delhi Union of Journalists said the judiciary must uphold the law without any gender or caste.

''The judiciary must not provide alibis for law breakers who belong to influential sections of society. No one, least of all the police should be above the law of the land,'' DUJ Gender Council said.

It said the judge ''seems totally oblivious'' to the trauma and loss of privacy that the victim's husband and other members of her family suffered.

''The IPS officer thought he could get away with the murder, planned and plotted in cold blood,'' it added.

The council said the comments-- ''except for this crime Sharma was an asset to this nation and his distinguished services''-- reflect an excessive and misplaced sympathy for a man convicted for murder.

''The judge seems to be more impressed with the IPS pedigree than outrage by the criminality of an IPS officer which tantamounts to betrayal of trust society places in law enforcers,'' it added.

UNI NR MSJ DS1332