Question

What is the meaning of the following phrase?.

"treating equals equally and unequal’s unequally but in proportion to their relevant differences”. Justice does not mean treating all individuals the same".

Answer 1

Answer: Though we are treated as equals in the court of law, but we are not always treated the same. There are many differences among the very citizens of a country and ignoring them will serve everything but justice. A president is given immunity when he/she presides over the presidentship. Though he is also as equal as any other citizen of the country, but he is not treated the same. A Crimanal and an ordinary citizen can't be treated as equals. Man and woman when it comes to domestic violence, can't be treated as the same. A child/ juvenile can't be treated as an adult and handed over the punishment specially designed for adult. A mentally and physically sound person must be treated differently from a mentally or physically challenged person.

Our society has many differences such as a minority - majority, race, ethnicity, etc. Everyone of us has different culture and traditions, that allows us to lead our life in different ways and interact with our world in different ways. If all are treated equally on a fixed parameter, it will become a form of discrimination.

That is the reason our courtrooms and justice systems acknowledges positive discrimination, and it is rightly said, "treating equals equally and unequal’s unequally but in proportion to their relevant differences”. Justice does not mean treating all individuals the same".