The Supreme Court has expressed its strong dissent over the diversion of police department’s resources in investigation of criminal cases, when they could be used for matters of greater societal consequence.
The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma observed on Monday that cases involving private parties levelling allegations of financial impropriety against each other should ideally have been decided through civil proceedings.
It noted that police found itself entangled in the irrelevant and trivial details of unethical private issues, while it could channelise its efforts in the pursuit of more consequential matters.
The Apex Court passed the orders on a petition challenging the Chhattisgarh High Court order, which refused to quash a cheating case regarding exchange of money in lieu of job promise.
The case involved a series of parallel proceedings and counter-allegations by the two parties involved.
At the outset, the Bench noted that
law enforcement agencies like the police shoulder the vital responsibility of preserving public order, guarding social harmony and upholding the foundations of justice.
It said that any agreement to provide jobs in exchange for cash was clearly an unlawful contract, for which even a suit for recovery could not have been filed.
As per the Apex Court, a balance of interest was needed between addressing unscrupulous private grievances and safeguarding public interests, noting that complex matters occasionally made their way into the hands of police.