CJI said it was “ridiculous” to convert civil disputes into criminal cases in UP.

India’s Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna found on Monday (April 7, 2025) that ordinary civil disputes are being converted into criminal cases “day after day” and reflect the complete collapse of the state’s legal and order mechanism. |Picture source: Getty Images/Istockphoto

India’s Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna found on Monday (April 7, 2025) that ordinary civil disputes are being converted into criminal cases “day after day” and reflect the complete collapse of the state’s legal and order mechanism.

“Every day, civil lawsuits turn into criminal cases. It’s ridiculous. Disputes about civil issues cannot turn into crimes… In Uttar Pradesh, the rule of law has completely collapsed. It’s unacceptable to turn civil cases into criminal cases,” Chief Justice Khanna led the three judgement benches by Sanjay Kumarantans jusvevevevevevevenantan.

The remarks came at a hearing on appeal by two men, Debu Singh and Deepak Singh, against a judgment against the Allahabad High Court, refusing to revoke the criminal case filed against them.

The two men who were faced with the bounce case suddenly found themselves charged with crimes, including breach of trust, intimidation and criminal conspiracy. Their lawyers say the registration of criminal cases is a strategy to reach a swift resolution, as civil disputes take a long time to draw conclusions.

A Supreme Court judge filed a criminal lawsuit against the two men but said cases against the stigma of checks will continue.

The Chief Justice said the officer investigating the case should stand in the witness box during the trial to explain his actions to bounce the inspection into a criminal case.

“Let the investigative officer stand in the witness box and articulate the crime case. Let him learn his lesson. This is not how you submit your fees. Strangely, these things happen day after day in Uttar Pradesh.

The court directed the Commissioner of Police and the investigative officer to file an affidavit within two weeks, giving reasons for criminal law in a civil dispute against the two men. The court listed the May 5 case.