〜てしかるべきだ
ought to (as is only proper)
Verb て-form + しかるべきだ
Sign up free to review this point on a spaced schedule.
てしかるべきだ says something is the proper, natural thing to happen, and often implies it hasn't: 彼の努力は報われてしかるべきだ, "his efforts ought to be rewarded".
しかるべき means "appropriate, proper", from 然る ("to be so") plus べき. The verb is often passive (評価される, 報われる), or an action expected from an authority: 説明責任を果たす, 謝る, 補償がある.
It's a formal, persuasive way of saying べきだ, typical of editorials and arguments about fairness. On its own, しかるべき before a noun means "appropriate": しかるべき処置, "appropriate measures". The subject is often a third party, such as a company, a government or a person in authority.
Examples
彼は当然謝ってしかるべきだ。
He really ought to apologise.
彼女の研究は、もっと評価されてしかるべきだ。
Her research deserves more recognition.
会社は説明責任を果たしてしかるべきだ。
The company ought to account for itself.
彼の努力は報われてしかるべきだ。
His efforts ought to be rewarded.
被害者には十分な補償があってしかるべきだ。
The victims ought to receive proper compensation.