Supreme Court Warns Police, Courts on Filing Charges in Civil Disputes: Efficiency and Integrity at Stake

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In a bid to streamline the Indian judicial system, the Supreme Court has emphasized the importance of carefully filing chargesheets and framing charges in cases involving civil disputes. A bench of Justices Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh and Manmohan stressed that police and courts must act as 'initial filters' to ensure only cases with strong suspicion proceed to trial. The court's observation came after setting aside an order of the Calcutta High Court, which had dismissed a discharge application by an accused in a case of wrongful restraint, voyeurism, and criminal intimidation. The Supreme Court noted that in cases where civil disputes are pending, the police and trial courts must be cautious to avoid clogging the judicial system. The court highlighted that filing chargesheets in cases without strong suspicion not only wastes limited judicial resources but also diverts them from more serious cases, contributing to massive case backlogs. The bench underscored that the state should not prosecute citizens without a reasonable prospect of conviction, as it compromises the right to a fair process. The Supreme Court's warning to police and courts is aimed at maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the Indian judicial system. By emphasizing the importance of careful charge-sheeting and framing of charges, the court hopes to ensure that only genuine cases reach the trial stage, thereby reducing the burden on the judicial system and upholding the principles of justice.