New Delhi, February 26: The Supreme Court issued a notice on Thursday regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that demands the central government and all states and union territories to install display boards in police stations and public offices. These boards would highlight the punitive consequences of filing false complaints, fabricated charges, and false evidence.
A bench comprising Chief Justice (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi passed this order after hearing arguments presented by the petitioner, advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
During the hearing, the bench remarked that the constitutional principle of fraternity should guide social conduct and warned that the misuse of criminal law through false cases could have severe repercussions for innocent citizens.
The Supreme Court further stated, “The problem arises when false complaints are registered. The unfortunate complainant may not even be aware that a false case has been filed in their name and that they are being exploited.”
The petition calls for the installation of display boards in police stations, tehsil offices, district courts, panchayat buildings, municipal offices, and educational institutions to inform citizens about the legal consequences of filing false complaints, false accusations, false statements, and fabricated evidence.
It argues that preventive measures are necessary to protect the rights to life, liberty, and dignity of innocent citizens guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and to prevent the misuse of criminal law for personal or political vendettas.
The PIL also seeks to instruct state officials to inform complainants about the legal repercussions of filing false complaints before registering a First Information Report (FIR) or accepting any complaint.
The petition states, “To safeguard the freedom of speech and expression of innocent citizens, authorities should inform the complainant about the penalties for false complaints, false accusations, false statements, false information, and false evidence before accepting the complaint.”
Additionally, the petitioner has requested directions to obtain an affidavit or declaration from complainants, confirming that the statements made in the complaint, information, statements, evidence, and allegations are true and correct, aimed at preventing frivolous litigation and malicious prosecution.
Relying on empirical data compiled from reports by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the petition claims that there is a significant disparity between the number of cases registered under various special criminal laws and the number of convictions, with an disproportionately high number of acquittals.
The petition further notes that despite the enactment of Chapter XIV of the Indian Justice Code, 2023, the lack of administrative or preventive mechanisms has rendered the provisions largely ineffective.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
