‘Gross Misuse of SC/ST Law’: Allahabad HC Orders Women to Return Rs. 4.5 Lakh, Fines Accused Rs. 5 Lakh

The Allahabad High Court on November 6, 2025, came down heavily on both the complainant and the accused in a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, terming the conduct of the parties a gross abuse of the law and an apparent fraud on the State.

The bench of Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, while dismissing a criminal appeal filed by Rameshwar Singh @ Rameshwar Pratap Singh and 18 others, directed the complainant, Smt. Ram Kali, and her two daughters-in-law to refund Rs. 4.5 lakh received as compensation from the government. Court also imposed a cost of Rs. 5 lakh on the appellants for attempting to manipulate the judicial process.

The appeal was filed under Section 14-A(1) of the SC/ST Act, seeking to quash the summoning order passed by the Special Judge (SC/ST Act), Prayagraj, on July 1, 2024, in a special sessions trial. The case stemmed from a 2021 FIR under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 504, 506, 452, and 354(kha) of the IPC, along with Section 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act.

During the hearing on November 4, 2025, the appellants’ counsel contended that the FIR was not genuinely lodged by the victim and that her thumb impression had been taken on a blank paper.

Court, taking serious note of the allegation, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Yamunapar), the investigating officer, and the complainant to appear in person.

When the matter was heard two days later, the complainant, Ram Kali, confirmed before the court that her thumb impression had indeed been taken on a blank paper. However, the State’s counsel contradicted this version, asserting that the FIR had been duly filed on April 16, 2021, based on a written complaint from Ram Kali. He pointed out that her statements and those of her two daughters-in-law had been recorded under Sections 161 and 164 of the CrPC, in which they had supported the prosecution story. All three women had also received Rs. 1.5 lakh each in compensation from the government.

Court expressed deep concern over the fact that despite these sworn statements and monetary benefits, the complainant was now denying having lodged the case. “Such conduct prima facie reflects a serious abuse of the process of law and a gross misuse of the benevolent provisions of the SC/ST Act,” Justice Yadav observed, calling it a deliberate attempt to manipulate the criminal justice system and defraud the State.

Taking a stern view, court dismissed the appeal and ordered the complainant and her daughters-in-law to refund the entire Rs. 4.5 lakh compensation amount to the competent government authority. To deter recurrence of similar conduct, the court also imposed a cost of Rs. 5 lakh on the appellants, directing them to deposit it with the High Court Welfare Fund within 20 days. The Registrar General was directed to initiate coercive recovery if the amount was not paid in time.

At the same time, court directed the Special Judge (SC/ST Act), Prayagraj, to proceed with the ongoing trial strictly in accordance with law, without being influenced by the complainant’s contradictory stand or the High Court’s observations.

Case Title: Rameshwar Singh @ Rameshwar Pratap Singh And 18 Others vs. State of U.P. and Another

Order Date: November 6, 2025

Bench: Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav