Context:
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issues notice to Odisha govt on custodial death row
Custodial Death:
- A death that occurs while a person is in the custody of law enforcement officials or in a correctional facility.
- Can occur due to various causes such as use of excessive force, neglect, or abuse by the authorities.
- Status – According to National Crime Records Bureau, Gujarat has reported the highest number of Custodial deaths followed by Maharashtra
Constitutional and Legal Safeguard:
- Article 14 – Right to equality before law
- Article 21 – Right to life
- Article 22 – Provides “Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases”.
- Section 330 & 331 of IPC – Provides punishment for injury inflicted for extorting confession during custody
- Section 176 CrPC – Demands magisterial enquiry in case of custodial death
- Section 120 and 127 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita on safeguarding the accused.
- NHRC’s Guidelines on Custodial deaths (1993) – Calls for reporting of custodial death or rape within 24 hrs of occurrence.
Source: Times of India
Previous Year Question
Consider the following organizations/ bodies in India:
1. The National Commission for Backward Classes
2. The National Human Rights Commission
3. The National Law Commission
4. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
How many of the above are constitutional bodies?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Answer: (a)
