REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5239 OF 2002

Dalip Singh

…Appellant

Versus

State of U.P. and others

…Respondents

O R D E R

1.

For many centuries, Indian society cherished two basic values of life

i.e., `Satya’ (truth) and `Ahimsa’ (non-violence). Mahavir, Gautam

Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi guided the people to ingrain these values in

their daily life. Truth constituted an integral part of justice delivery system

which was in vogue in pre-independence era and the people used to feel

proud to tell truth in the courts irrespective of the consequences.

However, post-independence period has seen drastic changes in our value

system. The materialism has over-shadowed the old ethos and the quest

for personal gain has become so intense that those involved in litigation do

not hesitate to take shelter of falsehood, misrepresentation and

suppression of facts in the court proceedings. In last 40 years, a new

creed of litigants has cropped up. Those who belong to this creed do not

have any respect for truth. They shamelessly resort to falsehood and

unethical means for achieving their go