Supreme Court bans luxury litigation, fines parties Rs 5 lakh each
The Supreme Court condemned the use of ‘luxury litigation’ by powerful litigants and imposed a Rs 5 lakh penalty on each side for not approaching the court with clean hands.
Facing criticism that affluent litigants exploit the legal system, the Supreme Court declared ‘luxury litigation’ unacceptable and mandated a Rs 5 lakh fine on each party for not presenting their case with clean hands. The judgment underscored how such tactics stall the resolution of legitimate disputes, leaving impoverished claimants waiting for years. The bench referenced the prolonged struggle of Rehana Khan and her counsel Rizwan Siddique, who have pursued legal remedies for more than eleven years across bodies such as the Bar Council of India, the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court itself.
The court warned that the justice machinery should not serve as a tool for score-settling, reputation-salvaging, or extracting advantage from self-created controversies. By imposing the penalty, the judiciary aims to deter future abuse and expedite the hearing of genuine cases. The decision reflects growing concern over access to justice for the economically disadvantaged.
Why it matters
It seeks to stop wealthy parties from clogging courts, improving access to justice for poorer litigants.
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