To discourage the increasing trend of companies and individuals filing criminal cases in civil disputes, the Supreme Court issued strict directions to subordinate courts to prosecute such “vexatious litigants” and order monetary compensation for victims of such “malicious prosecution”. “While no one with a legitimate cause or grievance should be prevented from seeking remedies available in criminal law, a complainant who initiates or persists with a prosecution, being fully aware that the criminal proceedings are unwarranted and his remedy lies only in civil law, should himself be made accountable, at the end of such misconceived criminal proceedings, in accordance with law,” ordered a bench of justices JS Kehar and R Bhanumathi. Quoting the provision from criminal law — which provides for courts to award compensation to a person falsely prosecuted — the bench said: “One positive step that can be taken by the courts, to curb unnecessary prosecutions and harassment of innocent par