Employment frauds pose grave public threat: HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has flagged cases where vulnerable individuals are lured with false promises of government jobs and exploited for financial gains as serious offences requiring strict judicial scrutiny. Referring to the broader societal stakes, Justice Sumeet Goel made it clear that pre-trial leniency could not embolden such criminal schemes.

“Cases where vulnerable young individuals are lured with false promises of providing Government jobs

and are subsequently subjected to exploitation, fall within the ambit of inducement and cheating and merit strict judicial scrutiny and deterrence,” Justice Goel observed.

The Bench added that the Courts must remain vigilant and ensure that such rackets were not emboldened by leniency at the pre-trial stage. “The Court cannot overlook the broader public interest involved in cases of securing employment and were induced to pay a substantial amount of money for the same. Such offences necessitate a strong and principled judicial response to prevent their recurrence,” Justice Goel added.

As per the FIR, the petitioner, along with others, induced the complainant to pay a substantial sum for securing job for his son. Investigations showed that the petitioner arranged a medical examination, issued a uniform and an identity card—acts that “prima facie indicated a deliberate attempt to misrepresent facts and to cheat.”

The Bench dismissed contentions that the matter was merely civil: “The material which has come on record discloses that the allegations against the petitioner are not vague or general but are specific, supported by details of payments. The contention that the dispute is merely civil in nature does not hold merit.”

The Bench clarified that the offence of cheating fell squarely under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) when deception and dishonest inducement form the foundation of a transaction.

“The offence in question does not merely involve financial deceit but the manner in which the same is alleged to have been committed is not only grave in nature but also have far-reaching consequences for the general public,” it further observed.