Fine of Rs 50,000 imposed on Police for detaining an individual for 30 minutes without reason
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(Credits : Livelaw)
New Delhi – The Delhi High Court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on two Police sub-inspectors of Badarpur Police Station in Delhi for keeping a man in the lock-up for 30 minutes for no reason. The Court has also ordered to recover this amount from the salary of both officers. The Court reprimanded them saying, “the purpose behind this punishment is to send a message to the Police officers that ‘Police officers cannot be law unto themselves’ “. This incident took place in September last year.
The Censure should be of such a nature that other officers will not emulate it in future
The Court further observed that, “Police officers who deprive a person of his liberty without following due process cannot be acquitted. A punishment of censure is not likely to have any effect on the career of the Police officers and will not be a sufficient deterrent for the officer. The censure should be of such a nature that other officers will avoid such actions in future”.
The high-handed manner in which the Police officers act is appalling
The High Court said that it was deeply troubled with the fact that the man was not even arrested; he was simply picked up from the spot, brought to the Police Station and placed inside the lock-up for no rhyme or reason. The Court also observed that, “the high-handed manner in which the Police acted, throwing to (the) winds the constitutional and fundamental rights of a citizen, is appalling. The Court is troubled by the way citizens are treated by the Police who behave as if they are above the law. Mere punishment of censure is not enough in such cases”.
High Court Pulls Up Delhi Police For ‘Terrible And Unfair Investigation’, Directs State To Pay ₹50K Compensation Each To Two Accused | @nupur_0111 #DelhiHighCourt @DelhiPolice https://t.co/FtKqxMxIiN
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 22, 2023
What the whole matter is about ?
According to the complaint received at the Police Station, a woman was assaulted and injured by a vegetable vendor in the area. The complaint was subsequently referred to the Sub-Inspector, who promptly visited the scene and encountered both the woman and the petitioner. The Police then brought the petitioner to the Police Station, where he was detained in a holding cell at 11:01 p.m. and subsequently released at 11:24 p.m. The petitioner claimed that he had been taken into custody without the proper procedures of a formal arrest, the filing of a first information report (FIR), or the recording of a daily diary entry.
| Editorial Perspective
Congratulations to the Delhi High Court ! It is hoped that when the Court metes out similar, or even stricter, penalties to arrogant Police officers, we may witness a positive shift in their conduct. |