‘Society Has Both Sitas and Surpanakhas’: Ex-CJI Lalit Calls for Balanced Justice System
Speaking ahead of International Men’s Day, former Chief Justice of India UU Lalit said that society has both “Sita Maiyas” and “Surpanakhas”, and therefore the justice system must remain balanced and fair. He stressed that raising men’s issues does not mean taking away women’s rights; instead, it is about ensuring a just and reliable legal framework for everyone.
Justice Lalit pointed out that many undertrial prisoners in India are not guilty and that the system must prevent innocent people from facing long and traumatic legal battles. Referring to characters from the Ramayana, he explained that society must be careful and create strong mechanisms so that people who have done nothing wrong are not dragged into court unnecessarily.
Citing available data, he noted that nearly four out of every five people facing criminal charges are ultimately acquitted. This, he said, shows the need for better safeguards against wrongful prosecution.
He made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Ekam Nyaay Conference – Shaping an Equal and Just Bharat – held at the Constitution Club of India on 16 November 2025. The conference was organised to mark International Men’s Day, observed every year on 19 November, and focused on how the justice system must protect the innocent while ensuring justice for genuine victims.
Justice Lalit also spoke about the sensitivity required in handling rape cases. He highlighted that the law now mandates giving utmost respect to the statement of a victim. However, he added that if an accusation is found to be false, the court should be able to record a finding in the same trial rather than waiting for a separate case of malicious prosecution.
He explained that in many relationships, young people willingly enter a partnership, but when things fall apart, allegations of exploitation or rape are sometimes made. He emphasised that while some complaints may be genuine, there are also grey areas, and the system must ensure that innocent individuals are not arrested or prosecuted without proper basis.
Bombay High Court Justice Sadhana Sanjay Jadhav, another speaker at the event, encouraged society to rethink long-standing assumptions—particularly the belief that a woman would never file a false complaint. She questioned this idea and urged people to recognise that malicious allegations do happen.
She highlighted the deep emotional and social impact of false charges, noting that when a man is accused, it is not only he who suffers. His family—children, parents, siblings—also faces stigma and distress.
The event also saw the release of Ekam Nyaay Foundation’s Annual Report by Justice UU Lalit and Justice Sadhana Jadhav.
Sharing the organisation’s work over the past year, founder Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj said that Ekam Nyaay supports men and families who break down under the pressure of false accusations, police inaction, or long legal battles. She said the foundation works at the grassroots level, helping men navigate FIRs, court procedures, and social stigma.
According to her, the organisation counselled over 2,000 men last year, helped in the arrest of 37 criminals and false accusers, supported victim families in filing FIRs in 24 cases, conducted three major studies, published more than 123 articles, and generated over 700 million views across social media platforms through their content.
