Gangster culture threatens social order, erodes public trust: HC asks Punjab, Haryana to frame SOP

Asserting that gangster culture, particularly in the form of extortion rackets, has emerged as a significant threat to the social order and justice system, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed Punjab and Haryana to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) to dismantle such criminal networks and ensure safety of citizens.

“A firm hand, with stringent law enforcement and legal measures, is essential to dismantling extortion rackets, deterring future criminal enterprises and safeguarding the moral fabric of society,” the Bench asserted.

The direction by Justice Harpreet Singh Brar came on a petition seeking protection for his life and liberty. The petitioner told the court that he and his nephew had been receiving life threats from Rohit Godara, “a known gangster affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang”.

The Bench was told that FIR was not registered despite repeated representations to the authorities.

“For over a year now, the petitioner has been running from pillar to post to have an FIR registered against the culprits, however, to no avail,” the Bench noted.

Justice Brar observed: “The State owes a duty to its citizens to ensure their safety. It is only when security and subsistence are not under threat, can a people truly make progress and build a life for themselves. Further still, the citizens can only be expected to contribute to the society when they live in an environment free of fear. Allowing lawlessness to propagate unchecked undermines the order, and thereby peace, painstakingly maintained by the justice administration mechanism.”

Describing the petitioner’s case as a grim reflection of a growing pattern, the Bench noted: “The story of the petitioner, unfortunately, is one of many. Gangster culture, particularly in the form of extortion rackets, has emerged as a significant threat to the social order in today’s time, fostering an environment of fear and lawlessness. The glorification of violence, the normalization of criminal behaviour, and the recruitment of vulnerable youth into gangs not only perpetuate crime but erode public trust in the justice system. Extortion, a hallmark of their operations, forces individuals and businesses to pay for ‘protection’ or face dire consequences, perpetuating a cycle of fear and lawlessness. Such criminal activities not only stifle entrepreneurship, but also create a parallel economy, fostering corruption and subverting the rule of law.”

The SOP, the Bench indicated, might include the creation of dedicated anti-gang units with adequate training and technological support; surveillance of known gangsters using digital forensic science and financial monitoring with the assistance of financial institutions; intelligence-sharing mechanisms between Punjab, Haryana, and central agencies to track cross-border operations; the establishment of an environment of trust to create networks of informants and encourage ordinary citizens to report incidents anonymously; the implementation of a Witness Protection Program; and prompt judicial handling of such matters through Fast-Track Courts to prevent evidence tampering.

Punjab