Different Punishments for Same Crime.

Hi Guys,
  

About four decades ago, one day in a village primary school in the central India, I was quarelling with two of my classmates, when the Headmaster called us. He let me off with a reprimand but ordered the other two to get into the 'Murga' (Cock) position. One of my mates, who surprisingly at that tender age couldn't take that discrimination, asked, "Sir, why have you let SP off and given us the punishment. 

The Headmaster called us three to him. We sat down on the floor and he, seated on a wooden chair, narrated us the tale. It's one story that has remained etched on my mind for last so many years and has had immense impact. I wish to share this splendid story with you all.

*  In ancient India lived a king, who one day was presiding over a judgment. Before the court were brought three men accused of committing theft. 

*   When the first man was brought before the court, the King, giving him a puzzled look, exclaimed, "You!" and then he gestured his minister to let the accused go. A few minutes later the second accused was produced in the court. The King looked at him with concern and spoke, "I didn't expect this from you." The second man too was let off. Lastly, the third accused when brought in enraged the King, who shouted, "Put this man behind the bars."

*    The entire court was shocked by the King's judgment. After a few minutes the minister, mustering courage, asked the King, "Why have you given different punishments for the same crime?"

*    The King smiled and ordered the third accused too be let off and then asked everybody to reassemble after a month and in the meanwhile, the intelligence chief was ordered to keep an eye on all three accused and report to the court about their activities after a month. 

*     A month later the court reassembled to discuss the same issue. The King asked his intelligent Chief about the three accused. The Chief stood up and told the court. "The first man had consumed the poison and died. The second man had left the kingdom and gone to the neighbouring one to live there and the third accused was caught stealing again. 

*    To a stunned audience, the King, standing up, explained, "The first accused was an innocent man, who could not bear the humiliation of the accusation and hence ended his life. The second man too was innocent but more resilient and hence left our kingdom but the third accused was a perpetual thief and hence was caught stealing again. So, you've seen that there can never always be the same punishment for same crime."

*     How true it is?