A Socio-Legal Study of Religious Communal Violence and State Accountability in India

Kirti Karothiya; Dr. Rekha Rani Sharma

doi:10.53724/lrd/v10n3.5

Authors

Kirti Karothiya Research Scholar, Institute of Law (SOS), Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9961-8533
Dr. Rekha Rani Sharma Principal, Gwalior Law College & Research Centre, Gwalior, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8797-3387

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53724/lrd/v10n3.5

Keywords:

Religious Socio-Legal Analysis, Constitutional Governance, Human Rights, Secularism, Minority Rights, Criminal Justice System, Public Order, Communal Violence, India, State Accountability

Abstract

Communal violence along religious lines is one of the most entrenched problems against the secular, equal, and rule of law aspects of the Indian constitution. Repeated episodes of communal violence have highlighted serious governance, law enforcement and institutional accountability gaps, leading to grave violations of human rights and social disintegration. This socio-legal study is an attempt to critically examine the nature, causes and consequences of the religious communal violence in India, especially the role and responsibility of the State in the prevention, control and response to religious communal violence. It examines provisions in the constitution, laws, judicial action and policies concerning communal disturbances and victim protection. Using a doctrinal and analytical approach to research, the paper examines key incidents of communal violence and assesses the effectiveness of the current legal frameworks in providing for justice, compensation, rehabilitation and prosecution of offenders. The study also examines the level of compliance of the state agencies, such as the police and the administration, in their constitutional duty to protect fundamental rights and public order. The results show that although India has a comprehensive legal and constitutional framework, state accountability is hindered by ongoing problems with political pressure, slow investigations, poor victim assistance, and poor law enforcement. The paper recommends the need for robust institutional protection, autonomous investigation proceedings, improved victim-centric justice frameworks, and comprehensive laws on communal violence. It is a conclusion that good state accountability is essential to build good democratic governance, safeguard minority rights and foster social harmony in a pluralist society.

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