NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has reiterated that criminal law should not be misused as a tool for settling personal vendettas or disputes, criticizing the growing trend of filing FIRs to resolve civil matters.
In a ruling that quashed an FIR filed over two decades ago for alleged cheating in a land transaction, Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan remarked, “In recent years, criminal justice mechanisms are being exploited by certain individuals to further their own vested interests, using it to achieve personal agendas.”
The Jharkhand High Court had taken 15 years to dismiss the petition for quashing the FIR, and the Supreme Court took another six years to overturn this decision. Writing the judgment, Justice Nagarathna emphasized the need for vigilance against such misuse of the legal system, noting, “Courts must remain alert to prevent these tendencies from gaining ground.”
The Supreme Court also chastised the complainant for failing to substantiate the charges against the appellant, pointing out that such actions create divisions and mistrust in society, while overburdening the judicial system, especially criminal courts.
Justice Nagarathna further stated that it is crucial for courts to “nip in the bud” any act that harms the societal fabric, cautioning that acts of omission and commission with negative impacts must not be allowed to persist.
The bench clarified that not every breach of trust amounts to a criminal offence, unless there is evidence of fraudulent manipulation or misappropriation. “It is the duty of the High Court to intervene where the continuation of criminal proceedings would constitute an abuse of process, or where the dispute is purely civil in nature but is being artificially colored as a criminal matter,” the court said.
