Sant Kabir Nagar: In a significant judgment, the Special Court hearing cases under the SC/ST Act has acquitted a father-son duo accused in a 2012 case of caste-based abuse and assault, citing lack of evidence. The court further took a strong stand against the misuse of judicial proceedings, ordering legal action against the complainant, Kiran Bala, for filing a false case and attempting to misuse the legal system.
The case dates back to 2012 when Kiran Bala, who was then the in-charge headmistress of the Primary School in Hadapar, Sant Kabir Nagar, lodged an FIR at Bakhira police station. In her complaint, she alleged that village head Krishnanath Yadav had called her to his residence. She stated that she went there accompanied by her husband, Vijay.
According to her, upon reaching the house, Krishnanath Yadav and his son, Algu alias Kailesh, verbally abused them using casteist slurs and physically assaulted them, leaving both her and her husband injured. She claimed they narrowly escaped from the spot and later approached the police, which led to the filing of a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other relevant sections of the IPC.
During the trial, four prosecution witnesses, including the complainant, were examined by the court. The defense also presented its witnesses and evidence. Senior advocate Jai Prakash Pathak, representing the accused, argued that the case was fabricated and driven by personal enmity, lacking any substantial evidence or corroborative testimony.
After carefully examining all the facts, witness testimonies, and arguments from both sides, the Special Judge concluded that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, both Krishnanath Yadav and his son Algu were acquitted of all charges.
In a rare but stern move, the court acknowledged that the complainant appeared to have misused the provisions of the SC/ST Act and judicial process for malicious purposes. Observing that filing false cases undermines the credibility of genuine complaints and wastes precious judicial resources, the court directed that a case be registered against Kiran Bala for the misuse of legal provisions and misleading the judiciary.
Legal experts have welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a reminder that justice must be rooted in truth and fairness, regardless of the sensitivities involved.
