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2 min read

Supreme Court Flags Rampant Conversion of Civil Disputes into Criminal Cases

The Supreme Court of India has raised serious concerns about the widespread misuse of criminal law in converting civil disputes into criminal cases across several states. Terming it as a "wrong practice," the court observed that such misuse undermines the essence of justice and burdens the criminal justice system.


A bench of Justices A.S. Bopanna and Sanjay Kumar highlighted that the deliberate criminalization of civil disputes is being misused as a tool of harassment. It further emphasized that courts and investigating agencies must exercise greater caution while dealing with such cases.


The bench noted that genuine civil disputes, particularly those involving contractual obligations, property disagreements, or family matters, are often inappropriately categorized as criminal offenses to pressurize the opposing party. This practice not only clogs the judicial system but also poses significant challenges for the individuals falsely implicated in criminal proceedings.


While addressing a specific case, the court reiterated that judicial forums must focus on the core nature of disputes and avoid allowing criminal charges in situations that lack substantive criminal elements. The Supreme Court also urged lower courts to be vigilant in distinguishing between civil and criminal matters to prevent unwarranted criminal trials.


"The intent of criminal law is to address genuine offenses against the state or individuals, not to serve as a coercive tool for private disputes," the bench stated. It underlined the importance of judicial discretion and the need to adopt a stricter approach toward frivolous criminal complaints stemming from civil disputes.


The court's observations are expected to act as a guiding principle for lower courts and law enforcement agencies in upholding the sanctity of justice. Legal experts believe that this could lead to a shift in the way such cases are addressed, ensuring that criminal law is not misused for settling private scores.





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