When the guardians of justice themselves become criminals, how can the faith in the law be preserved?
False cases not only torment the innocent but also shake the foundations of the justice system. When lawyers themselves are involved in this business, both the dignity of advocacy and the credibility of the judiciary suffer a serious blow. It is imperative to file criminal cases against such lawyers so that misuse of the law can be stopped. Justice is not just a provision recorded in books, but it is the faith of crores of people. This faith will remain intact only when the sentinels of justice – lawyers and courts – themselves set an example of transparency and honesty through their conduct.
The foundation of the Indian judicial system is based on truth and justice. The court has always been considered the biggest support of society. When a person suffering from injustice gets tired of knocking at every door, then he has hope only from the court. But this hope weakens when the people who become the support of justice make it a means of their selfishness and greed. Recently, the Lucknow court sentenced a lawyer, Parmanand Gupta, to life imprisonment and a fine of five lakh rupees for the crime of filing 29 false cases. This decision is an example that the judiciary will not spare those who misuse the law. This is not just the punishment of one person, but a warning to the entire society and the judicial system that there is no place for those who make fun of the law.
The profession of a lawyer is always viewed with respect in society. A lawyer is not only considered a representative of the client, but also an officer of the court. He is expected to fight for truth and justice. But when the same lawyer starts fabricating false cases, trapping innocent people, and using his profession for personal enmity or financial gain, it is not only a violation of his code of conduct but also a question mark on the dignity of the entire profession. If a lawyer who should be a supporter of truth in the court becomes the biggest weapon of untruth, then there is no guarantee of justice in society.
The effect of false cases is not limited to the accused person only. It shakes his family, his social status and his financial condition. One has to visit courts for years, gather evidence to prove innocence and has to suffer mental torture. Society also starts looking at such a person with suspicion. This breaks his self-confidence and slowly he starts losing faith in law and the court. This is the biggest loss, because losing faith in justice is the most dangerous situation for any society.
Another problem with false cases is that they weaken the cases of real victims. When a law, such as the SC-ST Act, which aims to protect the weaker sections, is used to file false cases, the voice of real victims is suppressed. The courts take more time to decide which case is true and which is false. The result is that real victims are delayed in getting justice, and their suffering increases.
Therefore, today there is a need to take strict action against lawyers who fabricate false cases and pursue them in court. If a doctor is negligent, a case is filed against him. If an engineer does poor construction, he is punished. So if lawyers, who are the watchdogs of justice, do the business of false cases, they should also be punished under sections like criminal conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice. Their practice should be banned, and the Bar Council should cancel their licenses.
This is not just a matter of the strictness of the law, but a question of the dignity of the legal profession. Unless the lawyers involved in creating and handling false cases are prosecuted, this evil practice will not stop. The more severe punishment the courts give, the more the message will go to society that there is no place for those who misuse the law.
To save the justice system, it is necessary that there should be provisions in the law so that immediate action is taken when false cases are identified. Accountability of lawyers has to be fixed. If it is proved that a lawyer deliberately instigated a client to file a false case, then not only professional action should be taken against him, but a criminal case should also be registered. This step will not only protect innocent people, but the profession of advocacy will also be known for its real purpose – the service of justice.
Today, the decision of the Lucknow court is an example for the whole country. It has been proven that the court is not only an institution that decides between the accused and the criminal, but is also a watchdog that protects the sanctity of the justice system. If lawyers deviate from their duty, they will also fall into the category of criminals and will be punished in the same way as other criminals.
Now is the time for both society and the judiciary should come together to save the legal profession from becoming a tool of crime. The Bar Council of India should implement a strict code of conduct for lawyers and immediately cancel their license if found to be involved in false cases. The courts should complete the hearing of such cases quickly so that justice is not only seen to be done but also delivered at the right time.
Lawyers will also have to introspect. They will have to understand that their first duty is not only the victory of the client but the victory of justice. If this thinking is adopted, then every lawyer appearing in the court will be a real guard in the eyes of society, and not a partner in crime. Justice is not just a word written on paper, but is the faith of crores of people. And this faith will remain only when the protectors of justice also perform their duty with full honesty and responsibility.
False cases not only increase the burden on the courts but also break the trust of society. When innocent people rot in jails for years, their families are ruined. Their innocent lives are ruined. At such a time, getting a strict and clear message from the courts assures society that justice is alive and is being protected.
The Lucknow verdict is a historic step in this direction. It is not only a case of punishing a criminal lawyer but also a warning to the entire nation that there is no place left for those who fabricate and pursue false cases. This message should be a reminder to every lawyer who will ever try to go on the path of falsehood. The law and the court will not succumb to anyone’s pressure or deception.
Therefore, it is important that society sees this decision as an ideal, and efforts should be made to implement it in the entire country. Lawyers should also learn from this incident and take a pledge that they will never let the dignity of their profession be tarnished. Only then will justice be truly called justice, and courts will become the biggest basis of trust for the common man.
