27/08/2016

MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort
LegalServiceIndiaMaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort
MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort
Writtenby:PrateekShankerSrivastavaStudent,IIndYear,Dr.RMLNationallawUniversity,Lucknow,U.P.
Chatwithus(2PM9PMIST)

LegalAdvice|Findalawyer|Constitutionallaw|Judgments|forms|PIL|familylaw|CyberLaw|LawForum|IncomeTax|Consumerlaws|Companylaws
SearchOn:

lawsinIndia

CopyrightOnlineinIndia
Search

RightfromyourDesktopPhno:9891244487
Home\TortsLaw

Articles|Articles2014|Articles2013|Articles2012|Articles2011|Articles2010|Articles2009|Articles2008|Articles2007|Articles2006|200005
Maliciousprosecutionisthemaliciousinstitutionofunsuccessfulcriminalorbankruptcyorliquidationproceedingsagainstanotherwithoutreasonableor
probablecause.Thistortbalancescompetingprinciples,namelyfreedomthateverypersonshouldhaveinbringingcriminalstojusticeandtheneedfor
restrainingfalseaccusationsagainstinnocentpersons.Maliciousprosecutionisanabuseoftheprocessofthecourtbywrongfullysettingthelawinmotionon
acriminalcharge.Thefoundationliesinthetriangularabuseofthecourtprocessofthecourtbywrongfullysettingthelawinmotionanditisdesignedto
encouragetheperversionofthemachineryofjusticeforapropercausethetortofmaliciouspositionprovidesredressforthosewhoareprosecutedwithout
causeandwithmalice.Inordertosucceedtheplaintiffmustprovethattherewasaprosecutionwithoutreasonableandjustcause,initiatedbymaliceandthe
casewasresolvedintheplaintiffsfavor.Itisnecessarytoprovethatdamagewassufferedasaresultoftheprosecution.
Inanactionofmaliciousprosecutiontheplaintiffmustprove:
1)Thathewasprosecutedbythedefendant.
2)Thattheproceedingcomplainedwasterminatedinfavourofthepresentplaintiff
3)Thattheprosecutionwasinstitutedagainstwithoutanyjustorreasonablecause.
4)Thattheprosecutionwasinstitutedwithamaliciousintention,thatis,notwiththemereintentionofgettingthelawintoeffect,butwithanintention,which
waswrongfulinfact.
5)Thathesuffereddamagetohisreputationortothesafetyofperson,ortosecurityofhisproperty.
WhendoesProsecutioncommence?
TheProsecutionisnotdeemedtohavecommencedbeforeapersonissummonedtoansweracomplaint.InKhagendraNathv.JacobChandra[1]therewas
merelodgingofejaharallegingthattheplaintiffwrongfullytookawaythebullockcartbelongingtothedefendantandrequestedthatsomethingshoudbedone.
Theplaintiffwasneitherarrestednorprosecuted.Itwasheldthatmerelybringingthematterbeforetheexecutiveathouritydidnotamounttoprosecutionand
thereforetheactionformaliciousprosecutioncouldnotbemaintained.Thereisnocommencementoftheprosecutionwhenamagistrateissuesonlyanotice
andnotsummonstotheaccusedonreceivingacomplaintofdefamationandsubsequentlydismisseditafterhearingboththeparties.

100% Original

Elementsofmaliciousprosecution
1.InstitutionorcontinuationofLegalproceedings
Theremusthavebeenaprosecutioninitiatedbythedefendant.Thewordprosecutionmeansaproceedinginacourtoflawchargingapersonwithacrime.To
prosecuteistosetthelawinmotionandthelawissetinmotiononlybyanappealtosomepersonclothed.Thepersontobesuedisthepersonwhowas
activelyinstrumentalinputtingthelawinforce.Therewasaconflictonthequestionwhetherthereisprosecutionofapersonbeforeprocessisissuedcalling
uponhimtodefendhimself.Oneviewwasthataprosecutionbeganonlywhenprocesswasissuedandtherecouldbenoactionwhenamagistratedismissed
acomplaintundersection203ofthecodeofcriminalprocedure.Theotherviewwasthataprosecutioncommencedassoonasachargewasmadebeforethe
courtandbeforeprocesswasissuedtotheaccused.
ThepropertestwasindicatedbytheprivycouncilintheMohammadAminv.JogendraKumarBannerjee[2].Thedefendanthadfiledacomplaintbeforethe
magistratechargingtheplaintiffwithcheating.Themagistratethereuponexaminedthecomplainantanoathandmadeaninquiryunders202ofthecodeof
criminalprocedure.Noticeoftheinquiryhadbeenissuedtotheplaintiffwhoattendeditwithhiscounselandincurredcostsdoingso.Themagistratefinally
dismissedthecomplaintundersection203ofthecode.InthesecircumstancesthePrivyCouncilheldthattherewasaprosecution.Thetestisnotwhetherthe
criminalproceedingshavereachedastageatwhichtheymaybedescribedasaprosecution,thetestiswhethersuchproceedingshavereachedastageat
whichdamagetotheplaintiffresults.Amerepresentationofcomplainttoamagistratewhodismisseditonthegroundthatisdisclosednooffencemaynotbe
sufficientgroundforpresumingthatdamagewasanecessaryconsequence.Itwillbefortheplaintifftoprovethatdamageactuallyresulted.
IntheGayaPrasadvBhagatSingh[3]theprivycouncilpointedoutthattheconductofthecomplainantbeforeandafterthecomplainthastobeseento
decidewhetherhewastherealprosecutorornot.Ifthecomplainantknowingthatthechargeisfalsetriestomisleadthepolicebyprocuringfalseevidencefor
theconvictionoftheaccused,hewouldbeconsideredtobetheprosecutor.
2.Terminationoftheprosecutionintheplaintiffsfavour
Theplaintiffmustprovethattheprosecutionendedinhisfavour.Hehasnorighttosuebeforeitisterminatedandwhileitispending.Theterminationmaybe
byanacquittalonthemeritsandafindingofhisinnocenceorbyadismissalofthecomplaintfortechnicaldefectsorfornonprosecution.Ifhoweverhisis
convictedhehasnorighttosueandwillnotbeallowedtoshowthathewasinnocentandwronglyconvicted.Hisonlyremedyinthatcaseistoappealagainst
theconviction.Iftheappealresultsinhisfavourthenhecansueformaliciousprosecution.Itisunnecessaryfortheplaintifftoprovehisinnocenceasa
separateissue.
3.Absenceofreasonableandprobablecause
Reasonableandprobablecauseisanhonestbeliefintheguiltoftheaccusedbasedonafullconvictionfoundeduponreasonablegrounds,oftheexistence
ofacircumstances,whichassumingthemtobetrue,wouldreasonablyleadanyordinaryprudentmanandcautiousmanplacedinthepositionoftheaccuser
totheconclusionthatthepersonchargedwasprobablyguiltyofthecrimeimputed.AslaiddowninHicksv.Faulkner[4]theremustbe:

http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l337MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort.html

1/4

27/08/2016

MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort
i.anhonestbeliefoftheaccuserintheguiltoftheaccused
ii.suchbeliefmustbebasedonanhonestconvictionoftheexistenceofcircumstanceswhichledtheaccuser
iii.suchsecondlymentionedbeliefastotheexistenceofthecircumstancesmustbebaseduponreasonablegroundsthatissuchgrounds,aswouldleadany
fairlycautiousmaninthedefendantssituationtobelieveso
iv.Thecircumstancessobelievedandreliedonbytheaccusermustbesuchasamounttoareasonablegroundforbeliefintheguiltoftheaccused.Itisthe
responsibilityoftheplaintifftoshowthattherewasnoreasonableandprobablecausefortheprosecutionofthecase.Ifthedefendantcanbeshowntohave
initiatedtheprosecutionwithoutthehimselfholdinganhonestbeliefinthetruthofthecharge,itcannotbesaidthatheacteduponreasonableandprobable
cause.Thefactthattheplaintiffhasbeenacquittedisnotprimafacieevidencethatthechargewasunreasonableandfalse.Lackofreasonableandprobable
causeistobeunderstoodobjectively,itdoesnotconnotethesubjectiveattitudeoftheaccuser.Thefactthattheaccuserhimselfthinksthatitisreasonable
toprosecutedoesnotperseleadtotheconclusionthathehadareasonableandprobablecause.
4.Malice
Maliceforthepurposesofmaliciousprosecutionmeanshavinganyothermotiveapartfromthatofbringinganoffendertojustice.Spiteandillwillaresufficient
butnotnecessaryconditionsofmalice.Malicemeansthepresenceofsomeotherandimpropermotivethatistosaythelegalprocessinquestionforsome
otherthanitslegallyappointedandappropriatepurpose.Angerandrevengemaybepropermotivesifchanneledintothecriminaljusticesystem.Thelackof
objectiveandreasonablecauseisnotanevidenceofmalicebutlackofhonestbeliefisanevidenceofmalice.InAllenv.Floodageneralrulewaspropounded
thatanactlawfulinitselfdoesnotmerelybecomeunlawfulbecauseofthebadmotivesoftheactorandsomeoftheirlordshipsintheHouseofLords
suggestedthatmaliciousprosecutionwasnotreallyanexeptiontothisrule.Thesetteledruleisthatmaliceisthegistoftheactionformaliciousprosecution
andmustbeprovedbytheplaintiffinthefirstinstance.Itisfortheplaintifftoprovethattherewasanexistenceofmalicei.etheBurdenofProofliesuponthe
plaintiff.
EvidenceofMalice
Malicemaybeprovedbypreviouslystainesrelations,unreasonableorimproperconductlikeadvertisingofthechargeorgettingupfalseevidence.Though
merecarelessnessisnotperseproofofmaliceunreasonableconductlikehaste,recklessnessorfailuretoproveenquirieswouldbesomeevidence.When
thereisabsenceofsomereasonablecauseqwingtodefendantswantofbeliefinthetruthofhischargeistheconclusiveevidenceofmalice.Howeverthe
conversepropositionisnottruebecauseapersonmaybeinspiredbymaliceandalsohasareasonablebeliefinthetruthofhiscase.Theremaybemalice
eitherincommencingaprosecutionorcontinuingone,honestlybegan.Themerefactthatcriminalprosecutionresultedinacquittalordischargeoftheaccused
willnotestablishthatthedefendanthadactedwithmalice.
5.Damages
Ithastobeprovedthattheplaintiffhassuffereddamagesasaresultoftheprosecutioncomplaintof.Eventhoughtheproceedingsterminateinfavourofthe
plaintiff,hemaysufferdamageasaresultoftheprosecution.Thedamagesmaynotnecessarilybepecuniary.AcctoHOLTC.J.sclassicanalysisinSavile
v.Robert[5]therecouldbethreesortofdamagesanyoneofwhichcouldbesufficienttosupportanyactionofmaliciousprosecution.
1)Thedamagetoamansfameaswherethematterwhereofheisaccusedisscaldalous
2)Thedamagedonetoapersonaswheremanisputtoadangeroflosinghislife,limborliberty
3)Thedamagetoamanspropertyaswhereisforcedtoexpendmoneyinnecessarycharges,toacquithimselfofthecrimeofwhichheisaccused.
Thedamagemustalsobethereasonableandpropableresultsofmaliciousprosecutionandnottooremote.Inassessingdamagethecourttosomeextent
wouldhavetoconsider:
1)Thenatureoftheoffencetheplaintiffwaschargedof
2)Theinconveniencetowhichtheplaintiffwaschargedto
3)Monetarylossand
4)Thestatusandprosecutionofthepersonprosecuted
MaliciousCivilProceeding
Anactionwillnotlieformaliciouslyandwithoutreasonableandpropablecauseinstitutingsuitthereasonstatedtobeisthatsuchacasedosenot
necessarilyandnaturallyinvolvedamagetothepartysued.Thecivilactionwhichisfalsewillbedismissedatthehearing.Thedefendantsreputationwillbe
clearedagainstallimputationsmadeagainsthimandhewillbeawardedcostsagainsttheopponent.Thelawdosenotawarddamageformentalanxiety,or
extracostsincurredbeyondthoseimposedonunsuccessfulparties.
CasesofMaliciousProsecution
IntheKamtaPrasadvNationalBuildingsConstructionsCorporationPvtLtd.[6]Theofficeroftherespondentcorporatinfoundcertainarticlesmissing
whilepreparinginventoryandcheckingupwiththestockregister.Theplaintiffwasprosecutedundersec.403oftheI.P.C.butwasgiventhebenefitofdoubt
andhenceacquitted.Theplaintiffbroughtanactionformaliciousprosecution.Theplaintiffcouldnotprovethathehadbeenharassedbytheofficers.There
washeldtobereasonableandpropablecaseforprosecutionoftheplaintiffandthe4factthatplaintiffwasnotharassedindicatedthattherewasnomaliceand
hencethechargewasnotheld.
InGirijaPrasadvUmaShankarPathak[7]theplaintiffwasapracticingadvocateatPannainM.P.hewasalsoaJanSanghleaderandhadstartedan
agitationonthequestionoffoodscarcityinthecityandoneJanSanghworkerhadgonetoahungerstrike.OnJan21965GirijaSinghasubinspectorwas
deputedoutsidethecollectoratetocontrolthecrowdthathadcollectedtheretosupporttheagitation.Thenthereweresomebulletshotsmadefromthe
revolverofthesubinspector.Hestatedthatwhilehewasgrapplingwithsomepersonwhowasassaultinghimtherevolvergotfiredmistakingly.Onthatdate
GirijaSinghhadlodgedanFIRstatingthathewasassaultedbysomeperson.hiswatchsnatchedandalsotheplaintiffUmaShankarpathakwaspresentatthe
sceneandwasinstigatingthecrowdagainsthim.thecasewasinvestigatedandtheplaintiffwasarrestedon15thjanandreleasedonbailon18thjan.hewas
finallyacquittedonjune30th1965.theplaintiffthensued4personsformaliciousprosecution,thesubinspectorGirijaPrasadwholodgedtheF.I.R.,the
S.H.O.ofthatareawhoentertainedthereportandtwootherpersonsinvolvedwiththecase.
ItwasfoundbytheM.P.HighcourtthatthereportpreparedbyGirijaPrasadwasfalseandatthatrelevanttimetheplaintiffwasnotpresenttherebutwas
appearinginfrontofaciviljudgeJusticeVerma.EventuallyGirijaPrasadwasheldformaliciousprosecutionandothersacquittedofthechargeandnotheld

http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l337MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort.html

2/4

27/08/2016

MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort
liableformaliciousprosecution.
RecentCase
VishweshwarShankarraoDeshmukhandAnrv.NarayanVithobaPatil[8]
Factsofthecase
TheplaintiffwasthesarpanchofthevillageShirputiintheyear1980andthedefendantno.1wasintheserviceasaGramsewakundertheZilaParishadand
thedefendantno.2wasateacherinaschoolrunbytheZilaParishad.Theplaintiffcontendedthathemadeseveralreportsagainstthedefendantsfortheir
misconduct.Thereportwasmadeagainstdefendantno.1forhismisbehavior,defalcationandforgeryofaccountsandalsoagainstdefendantno.2forhis
absencefromdutiesandotherirregularities.Itiscontendedthatboththedefendantsthenhatchedaconspiracytoinvolvetheplaintiffinacriminalconspiracy
andsuchthatthedefendantno.1hadlodgedanF.I.R.withthepolicethatwasassaultedbytheplaintiffwhilehewasdischarginghisduties.Onthebasisof
theF.I.Randinvestigationdonebythepolice,criminalproceedingswerelaunchedagainsttheplaintiff..Theplaintiffwasacquittedofthechargesagainsthim.
ItiscontendedthatonthebasisoftheF.I.R.lodgedbythedefendantno.1,plaintiffwasarrestedbtthepoliceandthecriminalproceedingagainsthimwas
withmaliciousintentiononthepartofthedefendants.Theprosecutionwaslaunchedwithoutanyreasonablecauseandduetothefalseprosecution,therewas
alosstohisprestigeandreputationandhisstatuswaslowereddowninthesocietybeingasarpanchandapolitician.
Decision
Thecourtdecidedthattheplaintiffwasmaliciouslyprosecutedbythedefendantswithoutanyreasonableandpropablecause,andthereforetheyareliableto
paydamagesworthRs12,500.00totheplaintiff.

100% Original

Conclusion
Maliciousprosecutionisanabuseoftheprocessofthecourtbywrongfullysettingthelawinmotiononacriminalcharge.Inordertosucceedtheplaintiffmust
provethattherewasaprosecutionwithoutanyjustandreasonablecause,initiatedbymaliceandthecasewasdecidedintheplaintiffsfavour.Itisnecessary
toprovethatdamageswereincurredbytheplaintiffasaresultoftheprosecution.Theburdenofproofrestsonhim.Hehastoprovetheexistenceofmalice.
Malicemaybeprovedbypreviouslystainedrelations,unreasonableandimproperconductlikeadvertisingthechargeorgettingupfalseevidence.
Thoughmerecarelessnessisnottheperseproofofmalice,unreasonableconductlikehaste,recklessnessorfailuretomakeenquirieswouldbesome
evidence.Maliciousprosecutionisthemaliciousinstitutionofunsuccessfulcriminalorbankruptcyorliquidationproceedingsagainstanotherwithout
reasonableorprobablecause.Thistortbalancescompetingprinciples,namelyfreedomthateverypersonshouldhaveinbringingcriminalstojusticeandthe
needforrestrainingfalseaccusationsagainstinnocentpersons.Maliciousprosecutionisanabuseoftheprocessofthecourtbywrongfullysettingthelawin
motiononacriminalcharge.Itisanefforttodisturbtheproperfunctioningofthejudicialmachinery.
Endnotes
[1]A.I.R.1977N.O.C.207(Gau)
[2]1948)51CWN723(PC)
[3]I.L.R(1908)30All.525(P.C.)
[4](1878)8QBD167(171)
[5]1899)1Raym374
[6]A.I.R.1992Delhi275
[7]A.I.R1973M.P.79
[8]2005(2)BomCR491
Theauthorcanbereachedat:prateek.aviator@legalserviceindia.com/PrintThisArticle
LawyersSearch
Findalawyer

FileMutualConsentDivorce

CopyrightRegistrationOnline

Knowyourlegaloptions

RightAway

RightfromyourDesktop...

Informationaboutyourlegalissues CallusatPhno:9650499965

9Comments

*CallusatPhno:9891244487

Sortby Oldest

Addacomment...

SanskarSaswat
verygoodnotes
LikeReply

1Aug18,20159:46pm

HerbertMacheleMakumirauniversity
Lawoftortiswidelyexplainableweneedtolearnmoreaboutit
LikeReply

2Nov29,20159:19am

Load7morecomments

FacebookCommentsPlugin

http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l337MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort.html

3/4

27/08/2016

MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort

100% Original

LegalAdvice

YourNameYourEmail

GetlegaladvicefromHighlyqualifiedlawyerswithin48hrs.

GetmoreInfo

withcompletesolution.
lawyersinDelhi

lawyersinMumbai

lawyersinKolkata

LawyersinIndiaSearchbyCity

lawyersinChandigarh

lawyersinPune

lawyersinJanjgir

lawyersinChennai

lawyersinDhaka

lawyersinAllahabad

lawyersinNagpur

lawyersinRajkot

lawyersinBangalore

lawyersinDubai

lawyersinLucknow

lawyersinAhmedabad

lawyersinIndore

lawyersinHyderabad

lawyersinLondon

lawyersinJodhpur

lawyersinSurat

Gurgaonlawyers

lawyersinCochin

lawyersinNewYork

lawyersinJaipur

Faridabadlawyers

Ghaziabadlawyers

lawyersinAgra

lawyersinToronto

lawyersinNewDelhi

Noidalawyers

lawyersinGuwahati

lawyersinSiliguri

lawyersinSydney

lawyersinNashik

lawyersinDimapur

Protectyourwebsite

LawyersinAuckland

lawyersinLosAngeles

Contractlaws

TrademarkRegistrationinIndia

LawColleges

CauseLists

Wills

Protectyourwebsite

Womanissues

LegalProfession

ImmigrationLaw

Chequebouncelaws

Armylaw

FamousTrials

TransferofPetition

MedicoLegal

LokAdalat,legalAidandPIL

AboutUs|Privacy|Termsofuse|JuvenileLaws|Divorcebymutualconsent|Lawyers|Submitarticle|LawyersRegistration|Sitemap|ContactUs
legalServiceIndia.comisCopyrightedundertheRegistrarofCopyrightAct(GovtofIndia)20002015
ISBNNo:9788192851006

http://www.legalserviceindia.com/article/l337MaliciousProsecutionunderLawofTort.html

4/4