Supreme Court Issues Strict Warning: File Charges Only When Evidence Is Strong

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has taken a firm stance against the growing trend of filing criminal charges and framing accusations in cases where prima facie evidence is weak or non-existent. The court emphasized that such practices unnecessarily burden the judicial system and urged police and lower courts to act as preliminary filters, ensuring that only cases with strong grounds proceed to trial.

The Case from Kolkata
A bench comprising Justice N.K. Singh and Justice Manmohan quashed a criminal case arising from a civil property dispute in Kolkata. The court noted that the police and lower courts failed to recognize that the matter was primarily a civil dispute and that the complainant had refused to provide any judicial statement. There was no substantial evidence to justify pursuing criminal proceedings.

Court’s Observations
The bench highlighted that the government should not pursue criminal cases against citizens without solid grounds. In a rule-of-law society, the decision to file a chargesheet must be based on whether the collected evidence provides a reasonable prospect of conviction. Police and criminal courts must act as initial filters during the chargesheet filing and framing of charges, ensuring that only cases with strong suspicion move forward.

Guidelines for Police and Courts
The Supreme Court stressed:

• Cases should proceed only when there is a genuine likelihood of guilt and the evidence is credible.
• Civil disputes or cases with weak evidence should not be converted into criminal cases, as this places unnecessary strain on the judicial system.
• While it cannot be determined at the outset whether a conviction will occur, authorities must assess whether there is substantial reason to pursue the case. If not, the case should be halted at an early stage.

Key Takeaway
By issuing this directive, the Supreme Court aims to protect the efficiency and integrity of the justice system and ensure timely delivery of justice. The message is clear: “Do not file charges unless there is a real chance of proving guilt.”