A public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court urging the installation of display boards at various public places to highlight penalties for false complaints and charges. The plea emphasizes the importance of these measures in safeguarding the rights of innocent citizens as per Article 21 of the Constitution. The proposed display boards are suggested to be placed in police stations, court premises, municipal offices, and educational institutions, outlining the consequences of filing false complaints and providing false evidence.
The petitioner also seeks directives for authorities to educate complainants about the legal repercussions of lodging false complaints before initiating any legal proceedings. Additionally, the plea advocates for obtaining undertakings from complainants affirming the truthfulness of their claims to deter frivolous litigation and malicious prosecution. Referring to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, the plea highlights a significant gap between registered cases and convictions under various criminal laws, indicating a systemic issue of false complaints and fabricated evidence affecting the justice system.
Citing the Law Commission’s 277th Report, the petitioner underscores the adverse impact of false charges and wrongful prosecutions on justice delivery and fundamental rights. The plea points out the inadequacy of existing remedies in addressing the prevalence of false cases and stresses the need for preventive mechanisms to curb misuse of criminal laws. It further asserts that unchecked misuse of legal provisions not only burdens the judiciary but also infringes on constitutional freedoms, such as free speech and movement, necessitating judicial intervention to rectify the situation.
