The Supreme Court's exercise of Article 142 to quash FIRs against protesters constitutes an overreach of extraordinary constitutional power beyond its intended remedial scope.
Aaj ki debate ka motion yeh hai: 'Article 142 Should Not Be Used to Quash FIRs in Mass Protest Cases' — yani kya Supreme Court ki extraordinary jurisdiction ka istemaal un FIRs ko khatam karne ke liye hona chahiye jo bade jan-andolano se judi hain, ya nahi? Main Nyaya, aaj ki moderator, dono pakshon se nivedan karti hoon ki apne dalailen samvidhanik siddhanton aur sthaapit parampara par kendrit rakhen — Counsel Aarav, aap pehle apna paksh rakhein, please.
My Lord, Article 142 ek extraordinary power hai — lekin extraordinary power ka matlab unlimited power nahi hota. Jab koi citizen Article 19 ke tahat apna haq use karta hai — assembly ka, expression ka — aur uske against FIR darz hoti hai, to us FIR ko investigate karna State ka zimmedari hai, Supreme Court ka kaam nahi ki woh us jaanch ko bulk mein khatam kar de. Article 142 ka use mass protest cases mein FIR quash karne ke liye karna ek aisa judicial shortcut hai jo accountability ko bypass karta hai aur victim ke remedies ko — jo khud Article 32 ke under is Court mein aaye hain — meaningless bana deta hai.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 142; Constitution of India · Article 19; Constitution of India · Article 32
My lord, vipaksh ki taraf se main yeh clearly kehna chahti hoon — Article 142 ka upyog mass protest cases mein FIR quash karne ke liye nahi hona chahiye, kyunki yeh ek established investigative aur judicial process ko bypass karta hai, aur Article 19(2) ke tahat reasonable restrictions ka jo constitutional framework hai, usse undermine karta hai. Paksh kehta hai ki 'complete justice' ka naam leke yeh power use ho sakti hai — lekin my lord, Article 142 ki 'complete justice' kisi accused ki FIR ko wholesale khatam karne ka raasta nahi hai; woh provision tab hai jab regular remedies kam pad jayen, na ki tab jab state ki legitimate criminal process ko rok diya jaaye. Article 19 khud guarantee karta hai ki assembly aur expression par reasonable restrictions laagoo ho sakti hain — iska matlab yeh hua ki in freedoms ka enforcement bhi statute ke through hona chahiye, Supreme Court ki extraordinary jurisdiction se seedha FIR mitaakar nahi.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 142; Constitution of India · Article 19
My lord, vipaksh kehta hai ki Article 142 complete justice ke liye zaroori hai — lekin main poochta hoon ki kya 'complete justice' ka matlab yeh hai ki ek poori criminal investigation ko Supreme Court ki ek order se rok diya jaaye, jab ki Article 19(2) ke tahat assembly aur expression ki freedom already reasonable restrictions ke saath balanced hai, aur High Courts ke paas Article 226 ka poora machinery maujood hai? Article 141 ke under Supreme Court ke har aadesh ka binding precedent banta hai — toh ek mass protest FIR quash karne ka order ek dangerous template set karta hai jisme har accused kehga ki 'mera case bhi mass protest ka tha,' aur state ki legitimate investigative powers effectively nullify ho jaayengi. Complete justice ka matlab impunity nahi hota, my lord.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 19; Constitution of India · Article 141; Constitution of India · Article 142
My lord, Aarav sahab ne jo dalil di hai ki Article 142 'complete justice' ke liye zaroori hai — usi point ko main pakadna chahti hoon: 'complete justice' ka matlab protest cases mein FIR ki bulk quashing kabhi nahi raha, aur iska koi verified precedent bhi hamare saamne nahi hai. Jab paksh khud koi specific authority cite nahi kar sakta, to unki dalil sirf ek wishful interpretation hai — aur ek wishful interpretation par is qadar broad power ka istemaal constitutional discipline ko khatam kar deta hai. Isliye, My lord, main maanti hoon ki yeh motion bilkul sahi hai — Article 142 ko mass protest cases mein FIR quash karne ka zariya nahi banna chahiye.
Petition side ka kehna hai ki Article 142 ka istemal mass protest FIRs ko quash karne ke liye hona chahiye — complete justice ke naam par — jabki opposition ka paksh hai ki yeh judicial overreach hai aur investigation ka constitutional process bypass karta hai. Meri balanced legal suggestion yeh hai ki Supreme Court Article 142 ka prayog sirf tab kare jab Article 19 ke tahat guaranteed protest rights ka明 明明 明明明明 — maafi chahti hoon, seedha kahungi: Court ko Article 142 ka use ek narrow, principled framework ke andar rakhna chahiye — jahan mass FIRs clearly constitutional freedoms ko suppress kar rahi hon, wahan relief mile, lekin blanket quashing se bachna chahiye taaki investigation ka due process bana rahe. Ab main citizens se nivedan karungi ki is debate ko rate karein aur apni raay zaroor dein.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 142; Constitution of India · Article 19