The Kerala High Court has ordered the removal of the photo of a person from the rowdy list gallery at the Fort Kochi police station within two weeks, saying that “once a rowdy, need not always be a rowdy”.
“Reformation is the main goal of Indian criminal jurisprudence. Economic hardship and many other factors could lead to one’s involvement in crimes. No person is born a criminal. An opportunity must be given to reform himself,” Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan said, while hearing a petition by Nixon of Fort Kochi.
Mr. Nixon’s counsel contended that his circle of friends led him to get involved in criminal cases till eight years ago, and that he was acquitted in almost all pending cases. He now leads a quiet life with family and is a God-fearing man, working as a supervisor in the building contract works of his brother. His photo with his name beneath exhibited in the rowdy list gallery at the station would even affect his marriage prospects.
Opposing the petition, the public prosecutor said that the petitioner had been involved in many cases, including serious ones, for 13 years since 2004. He was also in constant touch with people engaged in criminal activities, and there was a need for surveillance to make him desist from involvement in criminal activities, he contended.
Published – July 01, 2025 10:48 pm IST
