Observing that society will cease to exist if protectors become predators,the Supreme Court reversed the acquittal of two policemen and enhanced the punishment of another for chopping off a man's private part at a police station in Rajasthan. A Bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and T S Thakur awarded six months rigorous imprisonmen t to SHO Barmer Police Station Sohan Singh with a fine of Rs 10,000 and three years RI to ASI Sumer Dhan with Rs 50,000. The apex court also enhanced the punishment of constable Kishore Singh to five years as against the four years awarded by the trial court along with a fine of Rs 50,000 under Section 326 IPC (causing grievous hurt). "In our opinion,policemen who commit criminal acts deserve harsher punishment than other persons who commit such acts because it is the duty of the policemen to protect the people and not break the law themselves. If the protector becomes the predator,civilised society will cease to exist. "As the Bible says,'if salt has lost its flavour,wherewith shall it be salted? or as the ancient Romans used to say,'who will guard the Praetorian guards,"Justice Katju writing the judgement said. The apex court passed the judgement while upholding an appeal filed by CBI challenging the lenient view taken by the High Court which had acquitted the two policemen and reduced to four years the life imprisonment awarded to Kishore Singh. The trial court had earlier awarded life imprisonment to Kishore Singh,10 years to Sumer Dhan and one year to Sohan Singh.
