On 31 October 2025, a court delivered a judgment in a case involving a false complaint filed under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court found that the woman who lodged the complaint had fabricated the allegations and acted out of personal vengeance.
Ruling that no compensation could be granted under the provisions of the Act in a case based on false claims, the court sentenced the woman to three years and six months of imprisonment, with both terms to run concurrently.
A comprehensive review of court judgments from 2018 to 2025 reveals a persistent pattern of misuse of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Across various High Courts and the Supreme Court, judges have quashed proceedings, imposed fines, and even sentenced complainants for filing false cases.
These rulings underscore the judiciary’s efforts to protect the landmark legislation from being weaponized for personal vendettas, property disputes, and business conflicts, thereby ensuring it serves its intended purpose of protecting marginalized communities from genuine caste-based atrocities.
#1 UP Woman Jailed for False Complaint – 31 October 2025
In a significant verdict, a Special SC/ST Court in Lucknow sentenced a woman to three and a half years in prison for filing a fabricated police complaint under the SC/ST Act in August 2019. The court, presided over by Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi, found her allegations were driven by personal revenge. Emphasizing that compensation cannot be granted merely on the registration of an FIR, the court ruled that it must await a chargesheet and prima facie evidence. The woman was convicted under IPC sections 182 and 211, with both sentences to run concurrently.
#2 Bank’s Mortgage Rights Trump SC/ST Act Claims – 16 October 2025
The Delhi High Court, in a ruling by Justice Sachin Datta, held that the SC/ST Act cannot be used to obstruct banks from enforcing their legitimate mortgage rights. The case involved Axis Bank’s attempts to recover dues from a defaulting company, which prompted a complaint before the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Justice Datta stated that sections of the Act do not apply to lawful mortgage enforcement, staying the NCST proceedings and affirming that financial institutions cannot be blocked from exercising their security interests under the pretext of the anti-atrocities law.
#3 Marital Spat Insults Not an Offence: Telangana HC – 22 August 2025
The Telangana High Court quashed proceedings in a case where a Scheduled Caste man alleged his wife and her family used caste-based slurs against him during marital disputes. Justice E. V. Venugopal observed that the alleged remarks were exchanged in a private setting, not in “public view,” and therefore did not meet the essential criteria under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act. The ruling clarified that caste-based insults between spouses in private do not constitute an offence under this specific legislation.
#4 Life Term for Advocate Who Filed Dozens of Fake Cases – 19 August 2025
A Special SC/ST Court in Lucknow handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Advocate Parmanand Gupta for a severe abuse of the legal process. The court found that Gupta had orchestrated dozens of fabricated rape and atrocity complaints under the SC/ST Act by misusing the identity of a Dalit woman. His motive was to target rivals in property disputes. Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi convicted him of conspiracy, sentencing him to life and imposing a fine of ₹5.10 lakh for perverting the course of justice.
#5 Delhi HC Dismisses Plea Against Reservation for Converts – 13 August 2025
The Delhi High Court, led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, refused to entertain a petition challenging the constitutional validity of extending SC/ST reservation benefits to individuals who convert from Hinduism to Buddhism. The bench noted that the petitioner had failed to provide the specific notification granting such benefits and advised that any future challenge must be properly drafted with the assistance of a senior counsel. The court dismissed the plea as withdrawn but granted liberty to file a fresh, well-framed petition.
#6 Caste by Birth, Not Marriage: HP HC Reinstates Charges – 28 July 2025
The Himachal Pradesh High Court set aside a trial court’s discharge order, reinstating SC/ST Act charges against a non-SC woman married to a Scheduled Caste man. Justice Rakesh Kainthla held that caste is determined by birth and does not change through marriage. The court ruled that the accused woman could not claim the protections or status of her husband’s caste, emphasizing that the legal framework does not recognize acquired caste status via matrimony for the purposes of the Act.
#7 HC Fines Gram Pradhan for Threatening Lawyer – 8 July 2025
The Allahabad High Court imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on a Gram Pradhan for threatening a lawyer with false implication under the SC/ST Act. Justice J. J. Munir condemned the conduct, stating it was an act of intimidation aimed at obstructing justice in a land encroachment case. The court ordered ₹10,000 to be paid to the threatened advocate and ₹15,000 to the State Legal Services Authority, issuing a stern warning in lieu of initiating criminal contempt proceedings.
#8 Business Dispute, Not Caste Crime: Karnataka HC – 4 June 2025
The Karnataka High Court quashed SC/ST Act proceedings against a realtor and his wife, finding the complaint stemmed from a business partnership dispute rather than caste discrimination. Justice M Nagaprasanna noted that disagreements over unsigned documents with their business partner, Somashekara, led to the false complaint of caste-based abuse. The court ruled that the invocation of the Act in this context was misplaced and quashed the criminal proceedings.
#9 Supreme Court Decries ‘Gross Misuse’ in Bail Grant – 20 May 2025
The Supreme Court granted bail to a Jharkhand-based lawyer booked under the SC/ST Act for allegedly using casteist slurs against a former client. The bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih observed that the case reflected a “gross misuse of the SC/ST Act.” Emphasizing the need to prevent the application of the Act in false or exaggerated cases, the court released the lawyer on bail while criticizing the weaponization of the law for purposes other than combating genuine atrocities.
#10 Service Dispute Not Caste Harassment: Karnataka HC – 14 April 2025
The Karnataka High Court quashed proceedings initiated by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) against officials of the Mysore Education Society. Justice M. Nagaprasanna held that the NCSC had no jurisdiction to treat a service dispute—which arose from a computer technician’s transfer after a two-year leave—as a caste discrimination case. The court labeled the complaint a misuse of the SC/ST Act, clarifying that administrative transfers do not constitute atrocities.
#11 Bank Manager Case Quashed, Called Misuse – 24 January 2025
The Karnataka High Court quashed an SC/ST Act case against a private bank manager, calling it a blatant misuse of the law. The case was filed by a broker who alleged caste-based abuse during a dispute over document retrieval. Justice M G Uma found the complaint “bald” and lacking particulars, failing to show the offence was motivated by caste or committed in public view. The court held that continuing proceedings would be an abuse of the legal process.
#12 Judge Flags False Implication in SC/ST Cases – 12 January 2025
Justice Vivek Agarwal of the Madhya Pradesh High Court expressed concern over the false implication of individuals in SC/ST cases. Speaking at a workshop in Jabalpur, he stated, “Many times people are falsely implicated… Investigating officers should ensure that innocent people are not implicated in such cases and the guilty are not spared.” His remarks highlighted the judiciary’s awareness of the potential for misuse of the protective legislation.
#13 Land Dispute, Not Casteism: Rajasthan HC Drops Charges – 15 November 2024
The Rajasthan High Court dropped SC/ST Act charges against four accused in a 13-year-old case where derogatory terms were allegedly used against government officials during a land survey in 2011. Justice Birendra Kumar observed that the incident stemmed from objections to land measurement, not caste-based discrimination. The ruling underscored that context and intent are crucial for invoking the Act.
#14 Jharkhand HC Quashes Case to ‘Wreak Vengeance’ – 8 November 2024
The Jharkhand High Court quashed criminal proceedings under the SC/ST Act, noting the provisions were “grossly misused.” Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi observed that the litigation was initiated to “misuse the provisions and abuse the process of law, only to wreak vengeance.” The court found the case to be of a nature that clogs the justice system and undermines the intent of the Act.
#15 Victim Admits False FIR; HC Orders Compensation Return – 23 September 2024
The Allahabad High Court quashed criminal proceedings under the SC/ST Act after the victim admitted to lodging a false FIR under pressure from villagers. Justice Manju Rani Chauhan emphasized that the Act is sometimes misused to obtain compensation and stressed the need to check complaint credibility before filing an FIR. The court directed the alleged victim to return ₹75,000 to the accused.
#16 Neighbour Dispute a ‘Gross Abuse’ of Act: Gujarat HC – 10 July 2024
The Gujarat High Court quashed SC/ST Act charges in a 2019 case involving a scuffle between neighbours in Ahmedabad. Justice Divyesh Joshi stated, “There cannot be a better case than the one on hand of gross abuse of the provisions of the Atrocities Act.” The court ruled that the dispute was personal and not motivated by the victim’s caste, highlighting the misuse of the law in private altercations.
#17 Personal Vendetta Behind FIR: Allahabad HC – 22 May 2024
The Allahabad High Court quashed an FIR under the SC/ST Act, observing that the law was being misused for personal vendetta. Justice Prashant Kumar noted that the Act, promulgated for a specific reason, was “shockingly” misused and abused by some people for personal interest. The court dismissed the proceedings against a couple accused of using caste-related slurs.
#18 Professor Fined ₹5 Lakh for False Case – 24 February 2024
The Allahabad High Court imposed a cost of ₹5 lakh on an assistant professor for filing false cases under the SC/ST Act against colleagues. Justice Prashant Kumar called it a “pure abuse of process of law” where the complainant sought to wreak personal vengeance against the head of department. The court quashed the FIR, sending a strong message against frivolous litigation.
#19 Transfer Dispute Not an Atrocity: Karnataka HC – 23 January 2024
The Karnataka High Court quashed a criminal case against the director and a professor of DIMHANS, calling the complaint a “gross misuse and abuse” of the SC/ST Act. Justice M. Nagaprasanna ruled that a service dispute over transfers and postings could not be classified as an atrocity, quashing the proceedings initiated by a professor from another institute.
#20 Fraud on Statute Must Be Curbed: P&H HC – 9 January 2024
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a case where witnesses retracted their statements in a murder trial, stated that the SC/ST Act was being misused. Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj emphasized that any attempt to commit fraud on the statute by making false accusations to obtain benefits should be curbed to preserve the integrity of the legal process.
#21 Private Insult Not Public Humiliation: Allahabad HC – 18 September 2023
The Allahabad High Court quashed an SC/ST case, noting that the alleged caste-based abuse occurred inside the complainant’s house. Justice Shamim Ahmed ruled that since the incident was not in a public place, it did not meet the criteria for public humiliation under the Act. The court allowed the accused’s appeal against the denial of bail.
#22 50-Year Property Dispute Leads to False Case – 8 August 2023
The Karnataka High Court quashed an SC/ST Act case against two brothers over a property dispute dating back 50 years. Justice M Nagaprasanna called it a “classic illustration of misuse” that clogs the criminal justice system. The case was filed by the son of the original property seller in an attempt to gain leverage in the long-standing civil dispute.
#23 Gujarat HC Quashes Case Against BJP Leader – 26 July 2023
The Gujarat High Court quashed a complaint filed under the SC/ST Act by one BJP member against another, who was the President of Chotila Nagarpalika. Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt emphasized that unless the investigation reveals an intention to commit an offence under the Act based on the victim’s caste, the proceedings cannot stand.
#24 Tenant’s Abuse of Act Cited in Quashing – 20 July 2023
The Karnataka High Court quashed proceedings initiated by a tenant against her landlords, citing misuse of the SC/ST Act. Justice M Nagaprasanna stated that permitting further investigation would be an “abuse of the process of law,” as the alleged abuses occurred inside the house and the case represented a classic instance of the law’s provisions being weaponized.
#25 SC Mandates Public Witness for Prosecution – 23 May 2023
The Supreme Court set a landmark precedent, ruling that a person cannot be prosecuted under the SC/ST Act if the basic ingredient of the victim being abused in public before a public witness is missing. The judgment by Justice Datta reinforced the procedural safeguards to prevent misuse for private or unsubstantiated allegations.
#26 Compensation Only on Conviction: Allahabad HC – 5 August 2022
The Allahabad High Court expressed concern over a trend where complainants under the SC/ST Act compromise with accused after receiving compensation. Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh ruled that victims are entitled to compensation only upon the conviction of the accused, not merely on the filing of an FIR or chargesheet, to deter fraudulent claims.
#27 Chhattisgarh HC on Anticipatory Bail in Misuse Cases – [Date not specified in original text, but falls within 2018-2025 period]
The Chhattisgarh High Court, in a significant observation, remarked that when an offence under the SC/ST Act appears to be a misuse of the law, the court has the power to grant anticipatory bail. Justice Deepak Kumar Tiwari granted pre-arrest bail to an accused, affirming judicial discretion in cases where the invocation of the Act seems malafide.
#28 HC Directs DGP to Curb Third-Party FIRs – 19 October 2021
The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Director-General of Police, Punjab, to prevent the misuse of the SC/ST Act. Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan, noting clear misuse in a case stemming from a family dispute over an inter-caste relationship, ordered that no FIR be registered at a third party’s instance without prior legal opinion confirming the complainant is a ‘victim’ as per the Act.
#29 Innocent Man Freed After 20 Years in Jail – 6 March 2021
The Allahabad High Court ordered the immediate release of Vishnu Tiwari, who had spent 20 years in jail after being wrongly convicted of rape under the SC/ST Act. The court expressed profound sadness that an innocent man was imprisoned for so long despite a lack of substantial evidence, overturning his life sentence and 10-year rape conviction.
#30 Act Can’t Be Used to Blackmail: Madras HC – 31 January 2019
The Madras High Court quashed an FIR against a former university vice-chancellor, observing that the SC/ST Act cannot be used for blackmail. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh warned that entertaining false complaints promotes caste hatred instead of blurring caste lines, defeating the very purpose of the protective legislation.
#31 SC Says Act Becoming a ‘Blackmail’ Tool – 21 March 2018
The Supreme Court observed that the SC/ST Act had become an instrument to “blackmail” innocent citizens and public servants. To curb this, the court directed that a public servant can only be arrested with the written permission of their appointing authority, introducing a safeguard against the arbitrary use of the law.
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