Rule of law against mob violence: binding safeguards require coordinated prevention, prosecution, victim relief and official accountability.

Lynching, mob violence and vigilantism were treated as antithetical to the rule of law because private groups cannot replace the constitutional and statutory process for investigation, trial and punishment. The SC stressed the State's primary duty to protect life, dignity and public order, prevent hate-driven violence, and secure accountability where officials fail to act. It therefore framed binding guidelines requiring coordinated preventive, remedial and punitive measures, including victim protection, compensation, prosecution, trial management and administrative accountability for non-compliance.

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Issues: Whether the State and Central authorities were required to adopt preventive, remedial and punitive measures to curb mob lynching, vigilantism and related violence, and whether guidelines should be framed to protect the rule of law and affected victims.

Analysis: The Court held that lynching, mob violence and vigilantism are antithetical to the rule of law and cannot be permitted to supplant the constitutional and statutory process for investigation, trial and punishment. It emphasised the State's primary obligation to maintain law and order, protect life and dignity, prevent hate-driven violence, and ensure that no private person or group assumes the role of judge or punisher. The Court found it necessary to prescribe structured directions covering prevention, immediate response, prosecution, victim compensation, trial management and accountability of public officials.

Conclusion: The Court issued binding guidelines requiring the Union and the States to take coordinated preventive, remedial and punitive action against mob lynching and vigilantism, with strict administrative accountability for non-compliance.

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