PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi: 24th February, 2014

In a case of torture in police custody, the National Human Rights Commission has directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu to take an appropriate action against the delinquent police officials and pay monetary relief of Rs.15 thousand to the victim. The Commission has asked for a compliance report along with a proof of payment within six weeks.

The Commission registered the case in the year 2010 on the basis of a complaint from the victim alleging that the Tamil Nadu Police had falsely implicated, arrested and subjected him to severe physical torture in custody after he had filed a complaint against the police in the NHRC.

The Commission, on the basis of the material on record provided by the concerned State authorities in response to its notices, found that two cases were registered against the complainant and his colleague under different section of IPC and the charge-sheets were already filed in the court. Therefore, it observed that the correctness or otherwise of these cases is to be decided only by the court.

However, from human rights point of view, the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu was asked to submit reports regarding the victim's torture in the police custody. Subsequently, the Commission, after careful consideration of the material on record, found that the complainant was tortured during his police custody remand and a case of breach of human rights was made out. Therefore, it recommended that the Government of Tamil Nadu pay the monetary relief to the victim and take appropriate action against the delinquent police officers.

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