New Delhi, 27 February (H.S.):

The Supreme Court voiced grave concern over the surging misuse of criminal proceedings rooted in fabricated complaints, issuing notices to the Centre and state governments on a PIL seeking robust safeguards.

A bench presided by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay's petition, which contends that sham prosecutions terrorize the honest, overload courts, and weaponize civil disputes into grave crimes like SC-ST Act violations or trumped-up molestation/rape claims.

Chief Justice Kant highlighted how complainants often remain oblivious to cases filed in their name, with influential elites forging signatures to exploit the vulnerable. He cited a recent instance where a woman disavowed a political rival's prosecution launched falsely via her identity, underscoring systemic abuse demanding urgent administrative filters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar