'Breakdown of the rule of law': SC slams U.P. Police

The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh Police for its repeated practice of converting civil disputes into criminal cases, saying such misuse of criminal law machinery to force monetary recoveries is tantamount to a "complete breakdown of the rule of law."

- Utkarsh Anand

The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh Police for its repeated practice of converting civil disputes into criminal cases, saying such misuse of criminal law machinery to force monetary recoveries is tantamount to a "complete breakdown of the rule of law." A bench headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna and comprising justices Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan passed sharp remarks during the hearing of a case from Noida, where an FIR was registered over a monetary transaction and culminated in a charge sheet and a summoning order by trial court.

"This is a breakdown of the rule of law. It's not acceptable at all. Police cannot convert civil cases into criminal cases for recovery of money. How can UP Police keep doing this despite clear directions of this court? Does the state have a rule of law or not?" the bench asked.

Staying the proceedings before the trial court, the bench ordered that the director general of police, the station house officer and the investigating officer concerned must file affidavits within two weeks, explaining the reasons for registering a criminal case.