Third-Party Can File SLP Under Article 136 Against Quashing Of Criminal Proceedings : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India upheld the locus standi of a private party to challenge the quashing of criminal proceedings against Kerala MLA Antony Raju. The case involved allegations of evidence tampering in a 1990 drug case. The Kerala High Court had quashed the criminal proceedings against Raju, but a private party, MR Ajayan, challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. Raju argued that Ajayan, being a third party, had no locus standi to file the appeal. The Supreme Court rejected this argument, stating that third parties can file Special Leave Petitions under Article 136 of the Constitution if they have a bona fide connection to the matter. The court emphasized the importance of ensuring the correctness of judicial processes and held that the locus standi of the appellant would not impede the court’s ability to hear the case. This ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding justice and preventing the misuse of legal processes.