Former Chief Justice of India, UU Lalit, emphasizes the need for a justice system that safeguards innocent men from false accusations while ensuring genuine victims receive protection. His address at the Ekam Nyaay Conference called for balanced, gender-neutral legal reforms.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: The Constitution Club of India became the focal point for a critical conversation on justice and fairness as the Ekam Nyaay Foundation hosted its flagship event, “The Ekam Nyaay Conference – Shaping an Equal & Just Bharat.”
The conference, organized ahead of International Men’s Day, sought to address underrepresented issues faced by men in the socio-legal system, while reaffirming that advocating for justice is not an attack on women’s rights.
ALSO READ: India’s Criminal Justice System Is ‘The Most Neglected Sphere’: Former CJI U U Lalit
Delivering the keynote address, Justice U U Lalit, Former Chief Justice of India, highlighted the importance of balancing the scales of justice.
“We are not anti-women; we are pro-justice,”
he said, echoing Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, Director of Ekam Nyaay Foundation.
Justice Lalit stressed that the legal system must ensure innocent individuals are protected while victims of crimes receive justice. He elaborated on systemic issues, noting,
“Police officers or the investigation officers in our country do not have the kind of professional equipment or education that is needed and the force deserves. The rate of conviction has never been more than 20%. Are we not taking someone in custody who would be found to be innocent or whose crime did not get proved against him?”
Justice Lalit highlighted the need for safety valves at every stage of legal proceedings, from investigation to trial, to prevent misuse of laws:
“Our system should be such that if there is a false accusation, then the charge of false prosecution or malicious prosecution should not be left for a second kind of trial to be undertaken after the conclusion of the first one, but a finding can be recorded by the presiding officer of the court that the false accuser must be punished.”
The former CJI spoke about cases where consensual relationships turn into accusations of rape or sexual exploitation years later:
“Many a times, what we find is that young girls and boys enter into relationships with open eyes. Something goes wrong, and after a year or two, comes the complaint saying I was taken advantage of by this man…”
He further added,
“Now, there could be some truth in that complaint. But at the same time, there are shades of grey as well. And in that grey, the system should make sure that an innocent person is not prosecuted or subjected to unnecessary arrest.”
Justice Lalit called for reforms to protect innocent citizens while ensuring genuine victims’ statements are treated with respect, reflecting the high standards that Indian jurisprudence has reached.
ALSO READ: “Right to Education is the Most Impactful Affirmative Action in India”: Ex-CJI U U Lalit
Justice Smt. Sadhana Sanjay Jadhav, former Judge of the Bombay High Court, also addressed the conference, stressing that society must acknowledge the possibility of false allegations. She remarked:
“When a man is accused, it’s not he alone who suffers. It is his children, his parents, his siblings, his entire world.”
She praised the work of Ekam Nyaay Foundation, calling it “an awakening” that challenges social assumptions that automatically assume male guilt.
Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, founder of Ekam Nyaay, shared the foundation’s accomplishments over the past year:
“We work with men and their families who are shattered because of false accusations on a daily basis… We guided them through FIRs, courtrooms, and society’s unforgiving judgments.”
The organization has counseled over 2,000 men, helped secure FIRs from victim families in 24 cases, and published over 123 articles, garnering more than 700 million social media views.
ALSO READ: ‘Constitution Not Permanent’: CJI BR Gavai Echoes Ambedkar’s Vision for Continuous Reform
Throughout the day, speakers, including lawyers, psychologists, journalists, and activists, discussed issues like parental alienation, misuse of rape laws, mental health crises, and the need for prenuptial agreements. Former Additional Director of Prosecution, UP Govt, Sh. Satya Prakash Rai captured the essence of the challenge:
“Victims ka koi gang nahi hota.”
The conference concluded with a unanimous call for justice that transcends gender, emphasizing that men’s issues are human.
Justice Lalit summed up the ethos of the conference:
“The society requires it time and again. If these ideas are actually put to test, what perhaps at the end of this conference will emerge will certainly be beneficial to the entire society.”
Read More Reports On Ex-CJI U U Lalit