While dealing with the matter of Varun Bagga v State of Punjab, the Bench of Justice Alok Jain observed it has become a trend to abuse the process of law by lodging false first information reports (FIRs) to satisfy the ego.
In its observation, the Court held, "It has been noticed that it has become a trend to misuse and abuse the process of law by lodging false FIRs like in the present case just to satisfy one’s own ego,"
The Court imposed an amount of ₹1 lakh costs on a woman who filed an FIR against a man for the offence of outraging the modesty of a woman and subsequently agreed to its quashing pursuant to a compromise.
"Complainant, who first slapped the petitioner in a full public place and then just to suffice her ego, lodged the present FIR and then has compromised the matter," said the court.
The Court said that its the perfect case to pass an order against the complainant so that such false, frivolous and manipulated FIRs are not registered to lead to a waste of the state machinery's time.
"It is a fit case where appropriate action under law by invoking the provisions of Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and other related provisions against complaint deserves to be invoked so that such kind of false, frivolous and manipulated FIRs are not registered, which ultimately lead to wastage of time of the State Machinery, which is thrown into action."
Ultimately, it is the taxpayer money which has been wasted on account of the false FIR lodged by the complainant, the judge added.
With this, ₹1 lakh costs were imposed on the complainant.
"Although, the Court was of the view to take strict action against the complainant, however, taking a lenient view and by issuing a word of caution, coupled with imposition of heavy cost, this present petition is allowed," the Court stated.
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