{"id":86630,"date":"2026-02-07T17:32:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T12:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=86630"},"modified":"2026-02-07T17:32:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T12:02:34","slug":"custodial-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/custodial-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Custodial Violence, Legal Safeguards, Causes, Way Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Custodial violence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> refers to physical, psychological, or sexual abuse inflicted on a person in police custody or judicial custody. It is done to extract some information or forcefully make a person confess an offence or simply to punish the person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Custodial Violence in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>NHRC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reported <\/span><b>2,739 custodial deaths in 2024, an increase from 2,400 in 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with over 155 attributed to police custody. <\/span><b>Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of custodial deaths<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, followed by Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. The <\/span><b>Global Torture Index 2025 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">classified India as a<\/span><b> &#8220;high-risk&#8221; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">country for systemic torture.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Custodial Violence Forms\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Physical violence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Beatings, torture, electric shocks, stress positions, denial of food or sleep<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Psychological violence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Threats, humiliation, verbal abuse, prolonged interrogation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sexual violence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Rape, molestation, forced nudity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Negligence leading to death<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Denial of medical care, inhuman living conditions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Legal Safeguards Against Custodial Violence<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India follows a multi-layered framework to prevent custodial abuse, consisting of constitutional guarantees, judicial interventions, statutory provisions, and international commitments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Constitutional Provisions<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 14<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Equality Before Law. Under this article the accused shall be treated as equal as other persons before law. The State is constitutionally bound to treat detainees at par with any other citizen.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 19<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Protection of right regarding speech and expression etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/article-20-of-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Article 20<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Protection in Respect of Conviction for Offences<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 20(1): Protection against ex-post facto criminal laws.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 20(2): Protection against double jeopardy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 20(3): Protection against self-incrimination &#8211; no person can be compelled to be a witness against himself. Custodial torture to extract confessions directly violates Article 20(3).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 21<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Right to Life and Personal Liberty. The Supreme Court in the case of D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) held that the <\/span><b>expression \u201clife or personal liberty\u201d in Article 21 of the Constitution of India includes a guarantee against torture and assault even by the State and its functionaries to a person who is taken into custody.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/article-22-of-the-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Article 22<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Protection against arbitrary arrest and detention. The person must be informed of the grounds of arrest as soon as possible and has the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Judicial Safeguards<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>In D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/supreme-court-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Supreme Court<\/strong><\/a> laid down mandatory guidelines to prevent custodial torture, including Preparation of arrest memos, Medical examination of the accused, Informing a friend or relative of the arrest, Production before a magistrate within 24 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>In Joginder Singh v. State of U.P<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Court underscored the importance of reasonable justification for arrests, cautioning against arbitrary detention.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>In Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supreme Court recognised speedy trial as part of Article 21.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>In Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh (2020)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Supreme Court directed the Centre to install CCTV cameras and recording systems in all police stations to deter custodial torture.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Statutory Safeguards<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> criminalizes intentional infliction of hurt or grievous hurt by public servants to extract confessions or information. Recognizes custodial violence as a punishable offence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mandates\u00a0 arrests only for valid, recorded reasons, Proper documentation and procedural safeguards during detention.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> declares confessions obtained through coercion, inducement, threat, or promise as inadmissible in evidence.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>International Legal Safeguards<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>United Nations Charter (1945)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> emphasizes respect for human rights and dignity of all individuals, including prisoners.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> protects individuals from torture, cruel treatment, and enforced disappearances, ensuring the right to dignity and security.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Custodial violence remains a pervasive and deeply troubling issue in India\u2019s criminal justice system. Despite constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations, instances of torture, ill-treatment, and custodial deaths continue to occur with impunity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Custodial Violence Causes<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Absence of a Dedicated Law Against Torture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: India has signed but not ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture, and lacks a stand-alone domestic law criminalising torture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Culture of Coercive Interrogation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: India\u2019s policing model is rooted in control, coercion, and suspicion. Third-degree torture is often disproportionately inflicted on petty offenders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low conviction rate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Convictions for custodial deaths are extremely low. Between 2018 and 2022, there were reportedly zero convictions for custodial deaths despite hundreds of cases registered. A &#8220;brotherhood&#8221; mentality often prevails, where police protect each other, making it difficult for witnesses to testify.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Poor Compliance with Guidelines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Supreme Court directives, such as the <\/span><b>D.K. Basu guidelines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on arrest and the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations, are not fully implemented.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inadequate Oversight<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Internal inquiries are often biased. <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/national-human-rights-commission-nhrc\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>NHRC<\/strong><\/a> and SHRC recommendations are advisory and lack binding enforcement powers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overburdened System<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Indian prisons operate at over <\/span><b>130% capacity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with more than 75% of inmates being undertrials. This overcrowding, along with the pressure to solve cases quickly, often leads police to resort to violence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Social Acceptance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: For example in 2019 alleged encounter killing of four men accused of raping and murdering a veterinarian near Hyderabad was met with public celebration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To address the systemic issues surrounding custodial torture and impunity in India, a multi-pronged approach is essential. The following recommendations are aimed at creating a more accountable, transparent, and rights-based law enforcement system<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enact a Comprehensive Anti-Torture Law in line with UNCAT.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Enact Robust Anti-Torture Law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which defines custodial violence and set out clear punishments, aligning with the UN Convention Against Torture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Police Reforms and training<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Modernize police training to shift focus from &#8220;third-degree&#8221; methods to scientific and evidence-based investigation. Sensitize police personnel on human rights.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Install CCTV and Digital Monitoring Systems in Lockups and Prisons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. All lockups and custodial facilities should have real-time audio-visual surveillance, backed by a centralized monitoring unit.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006), the Supreme Court mandated the <\/span><b>creation of police complaints authorities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, led by retired judges, at the State and district levels to address complaints against police misconduct.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Strengthen Independent Oversight Bodies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs) must be given statutory authority to enforce their decisions. These institutions should have autonomous investigative wings with powers to summon witnesses, collect evidence, and initiate prosecution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fast-track trials for cases of custodial violence.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public Awareness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Raising public awareness to hold the state accountable and protect the rights of detainees.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Custodial violence violates the basic values of a democratic republic, especially the right to life, dignity, and rule of law. When institutions that are meant to protect citizens become perpetrators of harm, the credibility of the justice system is fundamentally undermined and it weakens public trust in the police and the justice system, and affects the poor and marginalized the most. Tackling this problem requires strong laws against torture, independent oversight, strict enforcement of guidelines, and police training based on human rights and constitutional values.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Custodial violence in India covers torture, deaths and abuse in custody, with causes, NHRC data, constitutional protections, legal safeguards and needed police reforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":86389,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5224],"class_list":{"0":"post-86630","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-custodial-violence","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86630"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86655,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86630\/revisions\/86655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}