As per the case facts an FIR was lodged against the appellants and others for various offenses including dacoity criminal intimidation and assault arising from a dispute over land The ... appellants sought to quash the FIR through a writ petition which the High Court rejected The appellants then appealed to the Supreme Court The question arose whether the continuation of the criminal case stemming from the FIR would constitute an abuse of the process of law particularly when the allegations primarily involved a civil dispute with a criminal color Finally the Supreme Court allowed the appeal and quashed the criminal proceedings arising from the FIR The Court observed that the FIR appeared to be an attempt to convert a civil dispute into a criminal one which constitutes an abuse of the process of law It emphasized the need to balance law enforcement powers with the protection of citizens from injustice and harassment stating that the State has a duty to ensure no crime goes unpunished but also that its subjects are not unnecessarily harassed The Court clarified that its observations were specific to this FIR and would not affect other pending criminal prosecutions