Demonetisation: 4 people die every day as a result of the move

The above statement is a principle called Blackstone’s formulation in criminal law. It is based on the rationale that in a situation where you can either punish several people guilty of crimes but also punish the innocent or save the innocent but also risk the guilty escaping punishment, you should save the innocent.

With the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, this principle has been annihilated. And it wouldn’t be entirely wrong to expect the government that introduced this move to shoulder some of the blame for the destruction of this principle.