New Delhi [India], February 27 (HBTV): The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the Centre's response to a plea to direct the Centre and state authorities to display information at all police stations and other public institutions regarding legal provisions and punishments for filing false cases and false complaints.
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre, all state governments, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking responses to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay.
The plea sought directions to the Centre and state authorities to display information at all police stations and other public institutions regarding legal provisions and punishments for filing false complaints, charges, statements, information and evidence, in order to protect the rights and dignity of innocent citizens.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant passed the order and sought responses from the authorities within four weeks.
Upadhyay also sought directions to ensure that complainants are informed about the legal consequences of filing false cases before their complaints are accepted. He further requested that complainants be required to submit an undertaking or affidavit affirming the truthfulness of their allegations to curb false and frivolous cases.
‘Empirical data compiled from NCRB reports demonstrates a stark disparity between cases registered and convictions under several special criminal laws, with acquittals running into disproportionately high numbers. This statistical pattern reveals a structural problem of false complaints, false charges and fabricated evidence clogging the criminal justice system,’ the plea stated.
During the hearing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that there was a need to create a more informed and sensitised society where citizens are aware not only of their own fundamental rights but also of those of others. The CJI remarked that the Court may be accused of gagging but questioned why it should fear such criticism.
Upadhyay argued that courts are burdened not by genuine cases but by false ones. He contended that in many instances, local land disputes are converted into cases under stringent criminal provisions, creating fear among honest citizens and disturbing the social fabric of rural India, with civil disputes often taking a criminal colour.
Allowing the plea, the Court agreed to hear the matter and issued notices to the respondent authorities.
(ANI)