President apprised of Government nervousness on CAT

President of India is apprised through her most prestigious and useful helpline regarding the apathy of the Government towards Human Rights exhibiting political nervousness in ratifying the Convention against Torture by the Parliament. The letter of the Amnesty International was also enclosed...It is high time that the Government is pressurised to ratify the Convention against Torture adopted by the General Assembly of UNO.

Both domestic and international law criminalise torture. Specifically, the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure outlaw the use of torture. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Both of these international instruments should carry substantial force in domestic law. The Universal Declaration's prohibition on torture is considered to reflect binding international law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has been ratified by India.

India signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 14 October 1997, but has yet to ratify it.

President's hepline No. PRSEC/E/2009/07288 dtd. 16-09-2009