New Delhi, March 24: The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the central government, all states, and union territories in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing the alarming rise of false complaints, fabricated charges, and misleading evidence within the criminal justice system.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha, passed this order while hearing a petition filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. The next hearing is scheduled for May 11.
The petition claims that the current legal framework prevents victims from initiating action against false complaints and fabricated evidence unless they obtain prior approval from the court. This creates a structural barrier to accountability.
It argues that the literal interpretation of Sections 215 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has rendered several punitive provisions ineffective, allowing criminals to flood police stations with false FIRs and burden courts with baseless cases, false allegations, misleading information, fraudulent certificates, false statements, and deceptive evidence.
Highlighting the severity of this issue, the petition references an incident in Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh, where a family reportedly committed suicide after facing threats of being implicated in false cases. It further states that innocent citizens are suffering significantly, as false cases are leading to suicides among the wrongfully accused.
The PIL points out a lack of specific data on false complaints and perjury in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) records, indicating a systemic deficiency in addressing this issue.
According to the petitioner, there has been a surge in false FIRs at police stations, while the burden on courts continues to escalate. As a result, individuals facing false accusations endure prolonged legal battles, suffer reputational damage, and experience financial and mental distress.
The petition asserts that victims are left to confront the stigma, lengthy legal struggles, and emotional turmoil caused by false allegations, without the opportunity to act as complainants themselves.
It calls for a purposive and harmonious interpretation of Sections 215 and 379 of the IPC to assist victims in filing complaints against crimes involving false information, misleading evidence, and perjury with court approval.
The petition emphasizes that the objectives of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) are being undermined due to the current legal situation.
Stating that the unchecked misuse of criminal law poses a threat to fundamental rights, the petition urges the Supreme Court to intervene to prevent the abuse of legal processes and protect innocent citizens from malicious lawsuits.
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