4. Specific relief to be granted only for enforcing individual civil rights and not for enforcing penal laws.—Specific relief can be granted only for the purpose of enforcing individual civil rights and not for the mere purpose of enforcing a penal law.
Section 4 Specific Relief Act: Specific relief to be granted only for enforcing individual civil rights and not for enforcing penal laws
Bare Act text
Text of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 (Act No. 47 of 1963), as amended up to the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act, 2018. Source: India Code, Government of India.
In simple words
Specific relief can be granted only to enforce individual civil rights. A court cannot grant it for the mere purpose of enforcing a penal law. A person seeking relief under this Act must therefore rely on an individual civil right. Showing that a penal law has been broken, without more, is not enough.