HC junks PIL seeking database of repeat sexual offence complainants

The Delhi High Court has declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the creation of a centralised database of women who have filed multiple sexual offence complaints, leaving it to the discretion of the police authorities.

The petition was filed by men’s rights activist Shonee Kapoor, who alleged that rape laws were being misused by some individuals to pursue personal vendettas, extortion or coercion.

Kapoor urged the court to intervene and direct the police to maintain such database at each district-level headquarters. He also sought that identity cards, preferably Aadhaar, of such women be seized to prevent misuse and protect innocent people.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela noted that Kapoor’s representation was already under consideration by senior police officers, as per a response to his Right to Information (RTI) application.

“Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the petitioner’s claims, this court disposes of the petition with a direction to the authority concerned to take an informed decision expeditiously,” the Bench recorded in its order dated August 7.

When Kapoor’s counsel referred to a similar order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chief Justice Upadhyaya responded: “So? That is their functioning. Is this a petition or a suggestion? How can a court intervene in this matter?”

The plea stated that there have been several instances where a single complainant had filed multiple cases of sexual assault, but there was no system in place for the prosecution branch to track or verify such instances.

Citing high rate of acquittals in such cases, the petition claimed this reflected a pattern of false implication, leading to prolonged harassment of the accused. It also warned that the rising number of unsubstantiated or false complaints could erode public trust and make it harder for genuine victims to seek justice.