NHRC receives 1,340 reports of custodial deaths in 2002-03
The Commission has received reports of 1,340 deaths in custody from the States/UTs in the period April 2002 to March 2003. Of these, 1,157 deaths were in judicial custody and 183 in police custody. Compared to the figures of 2001-02, the numbers of deaths in police custody have gone up by 18, while deaths in judicial custody have increased by 17. The total numbers of deaths in custody in 2001-02 were 1,305.
The highest number of deaths in police custody in 2002-03 was recorded in Maharashtra. 26 such deaths were reported from there whereas the figure in 2001-02 was 27. In 2002-03, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu reported 17 such deaths; Karnataka Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal reported 16, followed by Assam with 15 and Andhra Pradesh with 10 deaths.
Of the 1,157 deaths in judicial custody in 2002-03, the highest number was recorded in Uttar Pradesh. It reported 169 such deaths followed by 153 from Bihar, 117 from Maharashtra and 112 from Andhra Pradesh. Of the total number of deaths in judicial custody, well over 80 per cent were attributable to illness and old age. In other instances deaths occurred owing to illness, aggravated by illness, violence between prisoners etc.
It may be mentioned here that there are standing instructions of the Commission that all instances of custodial death should be reported to it within 24 hours of occurrence. This information must be followed-up by a report on the post-mortem, a videography report and a magisterial inquiry report.
The highest number of deaths in police custody in 2002-03 was recorded in Maharashtra. 26 such deaths were reported from there whereas the figure in 2001-02 was 27. In 2002-03, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu reported 17 such deaths; Karnataka Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal reported 16, followed by Assam with 15 and Andhra Pradesh with 10 deaths.
Of the 1,157 deaths in judicial custody in 2002-03, the highest number was recorded in Uttar Pradesh. It reported 169 such deaths followed by 153 from Bihar, 117 from Maharashtra and 112 from Andhra Pradesh. Of the total number of deaths in judicial custody, well over 80 per cent were attributable to illness and old age. In other instances deaths occurred owing to illness, aggravated by illness, violence between prisoners etc.
It may be mentioned here that there are standing instructions of the Commission that all instances of custodial death should be reported to it within 24 hours of occurrence. This information must be followed-up by a report on the post-mortem, a videography report and a magisterial inquiry report.