The Supreme Court of India recently expressed concern over a rising trend of women allegedly misusing laws related to dowry harassment, domestic violence, and POCSO to file frivolous or vexatious complaints against their spouses and in-laws.

The bench, consisting of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, observed that these false cases often overshadow genuine complaints and are used as a tool for financial leverage or harassment.Courts are facing challenges in distinguishing between legitimate cases and those that are baseless, which has added strain to the judicial system.

A worrying pattern noted by the court involves filing false POCSO complaints, often using minor children to make allegations against fathers, allegedly to extract higher settlements or exact revenge.

The Supreme Court emphasised the importance of careful judicial scrutiny to protect the rights and mental well-being of all parties involved, while ensuring that genuine victims of abuse are not denied justice.

In a recent decision, the court quashed criminal proceedings under POCSO against a father and his family due to lack of evidence, noting that the minor had been tutored by her mother.The verdict highlights the delicate balance courts must maintain between safeguarding individuals and preventing misuse of laws.