Relevance: The article highlights the police actions on vulnerable people and steps to stop the custodial deaths
Synopsis:
The CJI has raised concerns over the threat of human rights issues in police custody. CJI’s remarks should expedite steps to stop custodial torture.
Introduction:
Recently, the CJI observed that Custodial violence and other police atrocities still prevail in our society despite various constitution safeguards. Further, the Ministry of Home Affairs has reported that 348 custodial deaths and 1,189 cases of torture by the police were reported in the last 3 years alone.
| Read more: Threat to human rights is highest in police stations: CJI |
Constitutional Provisions to protect people from custodial torture
Article 20 (3): says that no person “shall be compelled to be a witness against himself”.
Article 21: Provides protection of life and liberty.
Similar provisions have also been provided in IPC and CrPC to protect individuals but they are not relevant to the present time.
Problems with these provisions:
These provisions do not act as deterrence to police as they are backed by political parties. There have been cases of use of police for political purposes and killing of suspected criminals in encounters
What needs to be done?
- Reforms in police and criminal justice system to ensure speedy delivery of justice
- No political interference
- Police departments should be adequately manned and equipped with modern techniques of investigation
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