This doctrinal research paper undertakes a comparative analysis of community service as a restorative sentencing mechanism in the criminal justice systems of India and South Africa. The study examines the legal foundations, institutional frameworks, and practical implementation of community service as a non-custodial sanction designed to reconcile punitive justice with rehabilitative and restorative objectives. Using a doctrinal research methodology, the paper analyses constitutional provisions, statutory frameworks, and judicial decisions from both jurisdictions, along with relevant academic literature and policy reports. The research traces the historical evolution of community service within modern penological thought and evaluates its emergence as an alternative to incarceration aimed at reducing prison overcrowding while promoting offender accountability and reintegration. Particular attention is given to recent legislative developments in India, especially the recognition of community service under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and these developments are compared with South Africa’s comparatively well-established framework under the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 and its constitutionally grounded sentencing principles. The findings suggest that while both jurisdictions recognise the rehabilitative potential of community service, South Africa possesses a more structured institutional and supervisory system that facilitates its consistent application. In contrast, India’s framework, though recently strengthened by statutory recognition, continues to rely significantly on judicial discretion and lacks detailed implementation mechanisms. The paper argues that effective community service programmes can contribute to prison decongestion, offender rehabilitation, and community participation in justice processes. It concludes by proposing reforms aimed at strengthening sentencing guidelines, institutional supervision, and restorative practices in both jurisdictions, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of community service as a restorative criminal justice mechanism.