SC to hear case of man booked without a charge sheet for 24 years

Nearly 24 years after he was booked in a case of fraud in Kerala, now 59-year-old Mankunnil Suresh has moved the Supreme Court because no charge sheet has yet been filed in the case.

In his plea, Suresh asked for Rs 25 lakh as compensation for the 'insult' and 'agony' of living as an accused for 24 years without being able to prove his innocence. He also asked the Supreme Court to quash the case so he can 'live with dignity', according to the Hindustan Times.

Suresh was accused of cheating a co-operative society of Rs 3,000. The case was filed in the Alapuzha police station 24 years ago, but has had no final probe report or even been closed for lack of evidence.

Suresh's lawyer said: "There is a need of an expiry date for legal proceedings and a legal audit of each file must be made compulsory to strengthen the rule of law and clean the system."

His petition says: "Right to live with dignity, enshrined in Article 21 of the constitution is a superior right than all other fundamental rights, which is evident from Article 359. No purpose will be served in registering an FIR without filing a charge sheet even after 24 years. This not only violates the petitioner's fundamental rights but also burdens the already overcrowded judicial system."

The court will hear the case today.