Supreme Court Slams UP: CJI Sanjiv Khanna Flags Law And Order Breakdown, Police Misuse In Civil Disputes
In a scathing indictment of Uttar Pradesh’s governance, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has pulled up the state for what he termed a “complete breakdown of the law and order machinery”.
His strong remarks came in response to the disturbing trend of the police converting civil disputes into criminal cases, thereby weaponising the law against innocent citizens. The case that triggered Justice Khanna’s ire involved a purely civil disagreement between two individuals.
However, with the help of a bribe, one party managed to manipulate the police into filing a criminal case against the other. This misuse of the criminal justice system not only violates the spirit of the law but also allows the police to arrest the accused, coercing them into submission. In fact, even the threat of arrest can unsettle a person.
Such practices, the Court observed, blur the critical line between civil and criminal jurisprudence. Instead of resolving the matter amicably or through the civil courts, the police involvement, often influenced by monetary gain, leads to harassment and a mockery of due process.
Justice Khanna issued a stern warning to the Uttar Pradesh police chief, stressing that police officers must refrain from overstepping their mandate and should instead focus on real crimes. Cheque bouncing, a common issue in India, further illustrates the court’s concern. While it is indeed a legal offence, the automatic presumption of criminal intent in such cases is problematic.
In many instances, individuals are forced to pre-sign cheques while taking loans. When financial difficulties arise and the cheques bounce, it does not necessarily indicate an intention to cheat. What is required is time and space to settle such disputes peacefully, not immediate criminal prosecution.
Adding to the judiciary’s dismay is the state’s casual disregard for earlier Supreme Court directives, particularly concerning house demolitions. The Court had laid down clear guidelines to be followed before razing any residential property.
However, these have been flouted, as seen in Prayagraj, where the demolition of homes led the court to direct a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the affected. The image of a young girl clutching her books while fleeing her home being torn down shocked the conscience of the Court and the nation.
Such acts of lawlessness, whether in the name of religion or social control, have no place in a democracy governed by constitutional values. The so-called “double-engine” government in Uttar Pradesh must remember that real strength lies in upholding the rule of law.
If Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath internalises this truth, many of the state’s current problems would find their natural resolution. For justice to prevail, the police must serve the law, not those who can pay to bend it.
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