The Allahabad High Court has raised alarms about the misuse of the SC/ST Act, designed to protect marginalized communities, for personal economic gain. The court instructed the state government to establish a monitoring system. Until this system is operational, it mandated that incidents and allegations must be verified before filing an FIR. This measure aims to ensure that only genuine victims receive protection and compensation, while those making false complaints face punitive actions under Sections 182 and 214.
The court emphasized that misuse of the law undermines public trust in the justice system. It highlighted the necessity for police and judicial officers to undergo training on this issue.
Court Cancels False Complaint Case and Orders Compensation Return
In a related case, the court canceled proceedings under the SC/ST Act and ordered the return of Rs 75,000 in government compensation, which was awarded based on a false complaint. This ruling was made by Justice Manju Rani Chauhan in response to a petition filed by Vihari and two others.
The court noted that the Supreme Court allows for settlements in both cognizable and non-cognizable crimes. It deemed the agreement between the parties valid and ruled that the remaining outstanding compensation of Rs 25,000 should not be disbursed. The complainant later admitted to filing a false report under villagers’ pressure and pledged to be cautious in the future.
The court reiterated that the SC/ST Act serves to provide immediate justice to vulnerable sections of society. However, it pointed out that false cases registered for government compensation must be addressed. The court ordered a copy of the ruling to be sent to all District Judges and the Director General of Police (DGP).
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