Gurgaon: The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging custodial torture, physical assault, humiliation and violation of constitutional safeguards by city police personnel.
Commission Orders Preservation of CCTV Footage
In an order issued on Monday, the commission directed the police commissioner to preserve CCTV footage from the state crime branch office in Bhondsi, the CIA branch in Sector 40 and Civil Lines police station for the relevant period and ensure that the recordings are not tampered with.
Details of the Complaint
The complaint was filed by a woman, Khushi Sharma, who alleged that her husband, Rakesh Sharma, was illegally detained and subjected to custodial torture between May 4 and May 8 in connection with an FIR dated Sept 20, 2024, registered at Civil Lines police station.
According to the complaint, Rakesh Sharma was not named in the FIR but was taken into custody and allegedly subjected to physical assault, stripping, threats, coercion, forced signing of blank papers and other degrading treatment.
Rakesh allegedly suffered a medical emergency, including collapse and seizure-like symptoms, due to the custodial abuse and was shifted to PGIMS Rohtak for treatment.
Commission Chairman's Observations
The commission chairman, Justice (retd) Lalit Batra, observed that the allegations, if proved to be true, would raise serious concerns regarding the protection of human dignity, bodily integrity and the constitutional guarantee of life and personal liberty under Article 21. “The allegations of custodial torture and degrading treatment strike at the foundation of the rule of law and violate constitutional principles as well as recognised human rights standards,” the commission observed.
It also referred to Supreme Court directions mandating installation of CCTV cameras with audio and video recording facilities in police stations, lock-ups, interrogation rooms and other custodial areas to ensure transparency and accountability. It noted that preservation of CCTV footage is crucial in cases involving allegations of custodial violence.
Reports Sought on CCTV Systems
The commission also sought reports on the installation, functioning, maintenance and preservation of CCTV systems from the superintendent of police, state crime branch, Bhondsi; the in-charge of CIA branch in Sector 40; and the station house officer of Civil Lines police station.
Noting an increasing number of complaints related to custodial violence and violations of constitutional safeguards, the commission also directed the additional chief secretary of the state’s home department and the director general of police to submit a report on compliance with Supreme Court guidelines on CCTV surveillance in police stations and other custodial facilities in the state.
The matter has been listed for the next hearing on July 23.
