Moral policing refers to vigilante groups that attempt to enforce a specific code of morality in society. These groups take the law into their own hands and try to forcefully impose their version of discipline on others.

Example: On Valentine’s Day, some groups may target couples in parks, punishing them by making them do sit-ups. In doing so, they assert their moral standards without regard for whether their actions are legally correct. They often believe that the police are not taking appropriate action, leading them to act on their own.

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Why Is It Harmful?

• Suppression of Fundamental Rights: Moral policing often leads to the suppression of fundamental rights, particularly for vulnerable groups like women.
• Extrajudicial Actions: Since these actions are extrajudicial, they contribute to a state of anarchy, eroding trust in the legal system. This can result in a society where anyone feels entitled to take the law into their own hands.
• Social Harmony Disruption: Moral policing disturbs social harmony and peace. It fosters an environment of intolerance and fear, leading to a deterioration of faith in the law.
• Rise of Instant Justice Demands: Vigilante actions increase the demand for instant justice, which can lead to mob lynching and prove disastrous for society.

Ways to Stop Moral Policing

• Improve Policing: Strengthen police forces and ensure that those who take the law into their own hands are held accountable.
• Criminal Justice Reforms: Reforms in the criminal justice system are necessary to instil sensitivity and an understanding of constitutional values within law enforcement.
• Mass Awareness Campaigns: Conduct campaigns to educate the public, challenge rigid biases, and promote acceptance of social change in accordance with modern values.
• Increased Policing in Sensitive Areas: Enhance police presence in sensitive areas during events like Valentine’s Day and near popular venues, where moral policing is more likely to occur.
• Community Policing: Encourage community policing and the formation of volunteer groups to support individuals during sensitive times.

Understanding why typical human behaviors such as racism, war, ethnic cleansing, terrorism, genocide, and religious intolerance occur can help in addressing the root causes. According to social psychologists, human behaviour is a function of both the individual and the situation.

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