SC seeks details on custody deaths from state Govts

The Supreme Court on Monday has sought a detailed report from all state governments on custody deaths and steps taken by them to prevent them. Though the issue has been pending before the apex court for long, only a few states have responded to the notice on the issue of custody death and torture. Senior advocate Abhishekh M Singhvi, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae (friend of court) in the matter, said state human rights commissions were also to furnish their report for the year 2006-07. Though several other issues were raised in the petition, a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam said it will confine its hearing only to the issue of custody death. Singhvi said the issue of custody death was serious as in Punjab 74 cases of death in judicial custody were reported in 2006. He said though the issue was grave no action was taken in Punjab. The senior advocate said eight respondents have only filed their response out of which two are paramilitary forces, CRPF and BSF. He said in the D K Basu judgements the measures to be adopted while taking a person in custody have been clearly mentioned. Further, there was a subsequent order for monitoring the issue.

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