SOME SUGGESTIONS TO REDUCE CRIMES make police and courts friendly service providers of public.

[C.A. DEV KUMAR KOTHARI]

Synopsis:

If police is relieved of un-necessary burden, court proceedings are made simple and speedier, police force gain more confidence in public as a service provider and friend of public, then police and courts will have more support from public and time to book real criminals timely and effectively. If honest people and public at large have no fear of police and court proceedings, the public will willingly come forward to help police and courts in booking criminals. Indirect support and benefits (time gain and diluted punishment) provided to dishonest and criminals by way of lengthy legal proceedings must come to an end so that honest people get relief on time. Eye watcher, witnesses, public and victims can come forward willingly and fearlessly and help police to reduce crimes and criminals to be afraid of anyone standing nearby.

About the article:

Though this website is not for criminal matters, yet the issue of crimes concern readers/visitors of websites as a member of society. The recent public outrage against Delhi Rape case is an eye opener. Lot of discussions are going on how to make law against rape more effective. However, author feels that law must be more effective in case of all real crimes. Unfortunately, undue weight age is given to deemed crimes and real crimes get back seat. It is time to re- think on this issue and relieves police force from un-necessary burden about deemed crimes so that they can devote more time to book real criminals and stop chasing deemed criminals who are easy to find out and can be potential source of extortion by police itself.   

Regarding better check and control over criminals and dishonest people I would like to make following suggestions so that criminals and dishonest people can be tackled more effectively, timely and vigorously  so that criminals and dishonest people have more fear of law and law enforcing agencies.

Reduce un-necessary burden on Police:

I feel that services of Police Force should be used only where it is necessary and un-necessary burden on police should be avoided by making changes in law to restrict deemed crimes and by allowing more time to regularize technical lapses, defaults, delays etc. before a criminal case is launched about deemed crime on technical, procedural and monetary issues involving some lapses, delays or default without intention to commit a fraud. 

Un-necessary burden on police and courts handling criminal matters:

Police and courts are un-necessarily burdened with matters where police can hardly do anything, and where there is no real crime but just deemed defaults or crime. Just few examples:

Criminal cases for technical or procedural lapses, defaults, and delays etc:

Criminal cases for technical or procedural lapses, defaults, and delays in corporate, business, tax, labor law matters etc. should be avoided to reduce burden on police. For example , prosecution can be launched if a company made late  deposit of PF , Tax, or failed to deduct tax,  or belatedly filed annual report , annual return  or there was some technical default in taking or repaying loan otherwise than by banking channel  etc. On such matters prosecutions are launched on individual, company and its directors and other principal officers, partners of firm etc. Large number of cases are launched about such defaults and most of them are futile exercise but causes lot of wastage of time of courts.

I recall, during tenure of Shri V.P.Singh as Finance Minister  there was too much emphasis on launching of prosecution cases, (may be because VPS, had prejudices against business community). In only one case 105 cases were launched for not deducting tax while making payment to contractor. The Tribunal had already decided that tax was not deductible and this was confirmed by High Court in due course and department accepted the same. Yet prosecutions cases were launched and the concerned officer was very happy as he could meet the target of launching prosecutions for three years. This was un-necessary. Most of cases have been dismissed. About 25 cases were pending in courts few years back, - -- may some are be still pending, though they could be withdrawn by Income-tax Department. Or could be summarily dismissed by the Court because there is no cause when Tribunal has held that tax was not deductible. It seems that neither the concerned advocate nor the court are interested to dispose off cases even when matter is covered and can be quickly disposed off.

Cases in which there was only delay and same has been regularized also by filing documents or depositing money and paying interest etc. launching of prosecution / criminal cases  serve hardly any purpose.

Cheque dishonor cases- S. 138 of N.I. Act:

More time should be allowed to drawer of cheque, to make promise and pay the amount within reasonable time (say 30 month), before a criminal case can be launched against him.

Large number of cases are launched for dishonor of cheques. Many of them are dismissed for technical lapses in drafting or filing of complaint and many deserves to be dismissed due to payment by drawer of cheque during pendency of criminal case, but cases continue because payment is not considered as curing default committed due to dishonor of cheque. Where payment has been made the case should be closed after ordering some penalty based on time scale.

Report of loss of share / bonds, debentures, certificates etc.: 

 Report of loss of share / bonds, debentures, certificates in course of transit or from home or office. Filing of a FIR or GD/complaint is mandatory for issue of duplicate certificates by company. There is hardly any purpose which can be served by merely filing FIR or GD. Property in shares is intact as the shares are registered with company. Such requirements of FIR or GD with Police Stations, where police can hardly do anything must be avoided to save valuable time of police. Advertisement of loss of certificates and application for duplicate certificates on websites of MCA, Stock Exchange, SEBI and company will be more effective.

Protection of VVIP:

There is excessive protection to VVIP and visits and places of visit by VVIP which can be reduced to provide a bit more protection to general public.

The list will contain many more such events which require involvement of police which can be avoided. A comprehensive analysis is required to find out efficacies of deemed crimes and prosecutions lanched for the same.

Therefore, role of police in such cases can be avoided to reduce burden on police. The Police Force should be dedicated to check and control real crimes and not assumed crimes and technical defaults or delays in compliance of law or commitment.

Quick disposal of cases:

In respect of most of litigation quick disposal of cases is required so that one can have feeling of finding justice on time and in real sense. Delay in justice is one of important reason of crimes, and dishonesty and fearlessness amongst criminals and dishonest people.

I find that in case of fair and reasonable dealing- whether it be in business or in personal matters, marital matters, family matters, social matters, financial and business matters there are hardly any dispute when people are honest.

Honest people want to avoid disputes and litigation - in fact honest people want to avoid police and courts. The popular very old saying in India is “Bhagwan Thane aur Kachahari se bachaye”. In reality we find that many people prefer to suffer some loss, damages, and pains instead of going to police and courts because of fear of uneasiness, wastage of time and money, and possible harassment etc.

My feeling, my own experience and my knowledge based on reading of judgments many times force me to question "Whether, courts in India are meant to help dishonest people and criminals"?

As per my experience and a bit of knowledge, as an ordinary citizen, I feel that in many of cases (around 75%) answer would be YES?

Many times we forgo many receivables because we have feeling that filing of Money Suit will not serve much purpose because when concerned party has developed dishonesty, he will rather like if creditor go to court so that debtor can simply say the matter is sub judice and so creditor will be refrained from reminding to him, and talking terms will come to an end.

Further because it will require costs and time both and will cause lot of distraction from work.

In some property matters l was forced to institute suit against dishonest people (my tenant and a co-owner in building and few vendors) because it was not possible to forgo my proper rights in properties. Simple matters of fixation of fair rent (even when it was agreed by tenant but later not paid), getting re-possession of purchased property from the vendor who illegally and forcefully took back possession are pending in courts for 8-10 years. These cases could be disposed off easily within 6- 9 months but unfortunately it takes decades because of un-necessary lengthy processes and steps, and delaying tactics of dishonest parties and their advocates.

Honest people suffer:

Even if the justice is rendered, it is very late and in the process of litigation dishonest people get benefits whereas honest party suffers. This is true in case of criminal cases also. Due to slow and lengthy process, criminals are not afraid of law, the suffering party can face harassment, and time loss, financial loss etc. therefore, and many of them avoid approaching police and court. Public feeling is that un-reported cases are many times more than reported cases of crimes and dishonesty.

Many time people  just  watch crime happening, victim suffering  but avoid going to police  and / or court with  another popular and old saying “police ke pachre me kon pare?” and popular advise “Police ke pachre me mat paro”.

These sayings are very old and people have been habituated to see, feel and also suffer but avoid police and courts.

Another old and popular saying is “doctor, vakil aur police se Ramji  bachaye”.- this is also reflective of fear from these people because many of them have tendency to put people in vicious and time consuming costly treatment or proceedings.

Mindset must now change. With advanced technology of information, communications and evidences etc. there can be easy and quick disposal, if both parties are given limited time and chances to file their pleadings in writing and counter reply and objections  by opposite party.

Advocates Role to expedite disposal of cases:

Advocates can play big role in pleadings before courts and disposal of cases. Unfortunately, many of advocates are found indulging into delaying tactics- particularly for dishonest clients who know well that his case is weak and his case will be lost so they want to gain time by adopting delaying practices.

There must be more moral check amongst Advocates. An advocate should not take case of dishonest people- a case which apparently seems to be with dishonest intention, should be denied.

If an advocate is found to plead cases which are apparently based on dishonesty and criminality of his client, his enrollment as an Advocate must be cancelled.

If an advocate is found to indulge into delaying tactics, and pursuing frivolous cases, just to gain time for dishonest client, his practice certificate should be cancelled.      

The judges can suo moto take action against parties and advocates which are apparently dishonest or at least judges can expedite disposal of case by denying longer and frequent time by adjourning hearing on request of party who apparently or prima facie is a wrong doer.

It is wrong to say that there is shortage of judges:

In my personal view it is wrong to say that there is shortage of judges. The delay in rendering justice is not due to shortage of judges but due to lethargic working system, lengthening proceedings un-necessarily by interested parties, many steps which could be compacted and completed in time bound manner but are prolonged, many times adjournments due to various reasons, and therefore low and delayed disposal of cases due to delaying tactics adopted by parties to suit and their advocates.

For example, the proceedings can be compacted by asking parties to suit to file question for examination, all documentary evidences along with petition or within some time thereafter, to provide petition with copies of all documents and evidences to opposite parties and by asking opposite parties to file reply with copy of all documents and evidences relied on by opposite parties within a limited time.

Thereafter, analysis of undisputed facts can be made where court can avoid examination of witnesses or documents. Only on disputed facts, and issues further examination can be made.   

In our present system there are so many steps and it may take years to frame issue, and examination of witnesses.

An example:

For example, a small and simple matter of Title Suit instituted by buyer in 1998 is still pending. The Suit is to seek registry of conveyance deed and re-possession. The petition is fully  supported by written agreement duly signed by vendors, buyer and witnesses, evidence of payment duly recorded by vendors, payments made   in few  installments over  a period of about six month all made  by A/c payee cheques , evidence of possession given by vendor in 1993 duly recorded on the bottom of agreement with witness.

The vendor took back forcefully possession in 1998 by putting lock on lock of the room. The Buyer has to institute title suit to recover possession and seek registry of conveyance deed. But the vendor is denying the same by making false and cooked story on the ground that vendor (two brothers) had no right to sell the property, amount received was loan taken in duress etc.

The grounds taken by the vendor are totally false and frivolous, but by adopting delaying tactics they are continuing in possession of property which they sold in 1993 for full consideration received. In meanwhile one of vendor died. The Buyer requested to substitute his legal heirs as defendant, it was not allowed by court merely because buyer was unable to give exact date of death.  On request of buyer (Plaintiff) the court directed the other opposite party) defendant to provide name of all legal heirs of his deceased brother and the date of death. But he did not provide the same in compliance of court directions. Rather he took pleading that the case abate because the plaintiff has not provided the date of death of defendant which is necessary to substitute legal heirs as defendants. And court willingly passed order of abatement.

Now the buyer had to search out date of death of deceased defendant, provide the same with names of his legal heirs and make an application for cancellation of abatement and restoration of suit with substitution of names of legal heirs. In the meanwhile the second vendor also died, the buyer is vigilant and aware of his death because he was in neighborhood so made application for substitution of his legal heirs. This was allowed, but cancellation of abatement and substitution of names of first defendant is still pending. This shows that how dishonest people, are gaining benefit of slow proceedings in courts- a property purchased in 1993, remained in possession of buyer till 1998 (more than  five years), vendor took  back possession in 1998 and holding the same till now – more than fifteen years.

A criminal case was also launched against vendors, for cheating but it was rejected holding that this is a civil matter and not a criminal matter ignoring the fact that vendors sold property, took  back possession forcefully,  did not register conveyance deed and now they themselves say that they have no right to sell. If so, why they sold property - selling property which one cannot is definitely a case of cheating. But a criminal complaint was rejected. Furthermore one cannot take two course of action- one keeping criminal case alive and pursuing title suit. Therefore, the buyer had to institute title suit in 1998 and suffer due to prolonged court proceedings.

This case could be disposed off within 6-9 month, but it is pending for about 15 years.    

About cases of crime against woman and other real crimes:

Police can easily hold hands on accused in case of deemed crimes like complaints against tax payer,  company director, cheque drawer etc. because they know whereabouts and police can exercise power over them easily, and can threaten them effectively , as per public feelers can also extort money.

Whereas, to put hands on real criminals is difficult and time consuming because  where about of real criminals are fast changing, and sometimes police can also be  afraid of real hard core criminals.

In case of crime against woman also it is feeling that dishonest woman are gaining benefit of law in favor of woman, whereas honest woman are still suffering and cannot take advantage of the law due to fear of police, advocate of opposite party, adverse publicity etc.

The consequences of above suggestions:

In case my suggestions (these are suggestions of public at large also) can be implemented, the police and courts will have more time to book real criminals timely and effectively- this will reduce crimes.

If honest people and public at large have no fear of police and court proceedings, the public will willingly come forward to help police and courts in booking criminals- at present generally people are forced just to keep eyes and mouth shut and avoid becoming complainant, witness or approver etc. this must come to an end and public must find more confidence in police, administration and courts.  

I hope the above words which represent feelings of honest and law abider people need to be considered in proper perspective by law maker, law enforcing agencies and courts.

Request to readers:

Readers are requested to post their comments as soon as possible and also write on the subject.