Allahabad High Court Penalizes Accused in SC/ST Act Case
The Allahabad High Court issued a strict order criticizing both the three victims and the 19 accused in a case related to the SC/ST Act of 1989. The court uncovered what it called a serious abuse of legal procedures and a gross misuse of the Act's protective provisions.
Refund and Penalty Ordered
The bench, led by Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, dismissed the criminal appeal filed by the 19 accused under Section 14-A(1) of the SC/ST Act. It directed the alleged victims—a Dalit woman and her two daughters-in-law—to return the entire compensation amount of ₹4.5 lakh they had received from the State Government.
Simultaneously, the court imposed a ₹5 lakh cost on the accused-appellants for manipulating the victim and attempting to obstruct justice.
Arguments Presented in Court
On November 4, 2025, the counsel for the appellants argued that the FIR was filed based on the complainant's thumb impression. This claim was firmly refuted by the complainant's counsel, who stated that no such FIR was lodged by the victim.
Court's Observations
The complainant is a woman belonging to the SC community, and the Court apprehended that the applicants might have approached her and exerted undue pressure upon her.
Summary
The Allahabad High Court has exposed misuse of the SC/ST Act in this case, ordering compensation refund and fines to uphold judicial integrity and protect true victims from manipulation.
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