1. Writ petition — Allegations of illegal custodial detention — Crime Branch report confirming illegal detention and recommending prosecution of officers. (Para 2 )
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1994 Supreme(SC) 1349
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
M.N. Venkatachaliah, C.J.I., S. Mohan, J.
Yogesh K. Bhatia - Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. - Respondent
WP(Cr.) 109/1994
Decided On : 15-07-1994
Important Points
Arbitrary custodial detention by police is illegal and impermissible, regardless of the suspect's potential guilt. The State must strictly enforce laws against police high-handedness and provide compensation to victims of illegal detention to uphold the rule of law.
Subject
Constitutional Law - Custodial Detention
Act Referred
Headnote
Claim of Compensation - Example of violence and lawlessness - Crime Branch of C.I.D. of State of Uttar Pradesh has submitted its report - Report establishes in a substantial measure allegations in writ petition of illegal detention - Report also recommends that concerned officers should be prosecuted and that one Deputy Superintendent of Police be proceeded against departmentally - This is yet another instance of brazen high handedness of the police and of arbitrary exercise of authority - It is quite possible and court do not rule out such possibility - That the two persons concerned might have been privy to or guilty of criminal acts though court are told that no prosecution for any offence is yet under contemplation but fact remains that during investigation police have totally abandoned rules of game and have resorted to impermissible and illegal methods of arbitrary custodial detention – Held, In these cases it is immaterial whether they are guilty of any offence or not - they were detained illegally in police custody for several days. The police is of course entitled to investigate offences against them within the limits prescribed by Constitution of country and laws but they cannot be law unto themselves and resort to these impermissible methods - In order that proper lesson goes home court direct Government to pay a compensation to each of these two persons within two weeks from today - Court also direct State Government to recover these sums from guilty officers after holding an inquiry and as to the apportionment amongst those guilty - Amount shall be tendered by a cheque to Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee which will ensure its due disbursement to the beneficiaries - State Government will also report to this Court that due prosecutions and disciplinary proceedings as case may be have been launched as per report of Crime Branch - Writ petition is disposed of
Legal Category Hierarchy
Table of Contents
2. Legality of custodial detention — Whether the detention of individuals by police was arbitrary and illegal. (Para 1 , 2 )
3. Arbitrary custodial detention — Impermissibility of illegal methods during investigation — State's duty to uphold the law to prevent anarchy and contempt for law. (Para 3 , 4 )
4. Police authority — Investigation within Constitutional and legal limits — Impermissibility of arbitrary custodial detention regardless of the guilt of the detenu. (Para 3 , 5 )
5. Writ petition disposed of — Compensation awarded to illegally detained persons — Recovery from guilty officers — Directions for prosecution and disciplinary proceedings. (Para 5 , 6 , 7 )
6. Is illegal custodial detention permissible if the persons detained are suspected of criminal acts?
No. The court held that regardless of whether the persons are guilty of any offence, the police cannot resort to impermissible and illegal methods of arbitrary custodial detention. (Para 3 , 5 )
7. What is the legal impact when the State or police violate the law?
When the State sets an example of violence and lawlessness, it encourages citizens to resort to lawless methods, breeds contempt for law, and invites anarchy. (Para 3 )
8. What are the limits of police power during a criminal investigation?
The police are entitled to investigate offences only within the limits prescribed by the Constitution of the country and the applicable laws; they cannot act as a law unto themselves. (Para 5 )
ORDER :
M.N. Venkatachaliah, CJI.
We have heard Sri Ranjit Kumar, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Sri Yogeshwar Prasad, learned senior Counsel for the respondent.
2. The Crime Branch of the C.I.D. of the State of Uttar Pradesh has submitted its report. The report establishes in a substantial measure, the allegations in the writ petition of illegal detention of Ram Chander and Sher Pal. The report also recommends that the concerned officers should be prosecuted and that one Deputy Superintendent of Police be proceeded against departmentally.
3. This is yet another instance of brazen high handedness of the police and of arbitrary exercise of authority. It is quite possible - and we do not rule out such possibility - that the two persons concerned might have been privy to or guilty of criminal acts, though we are told that no prosecution for any offence is yet under contemplation, but the fact remains that during the investigation police have totally abandoned the rules of the game and have resorted to the impermissible and illegal methods of arbitrary custodial detention. If the State - whose physical might the police represent - itself sets an example of violence and lawlessness, it becomes addictive and encourages the citizen to resort to lawless methods. As it is said, "it is not admissible to do a great right by doing a little wrong". It is not permissible to obtain a proper result by irregular or improper means. It has been said: Our Government is the potent, the omni-present teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the Government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.
4. These cautions have, it is complained, remained mere words and pious precautions so far as the day to day working of the police is concerned. It is not enough if the laws prohibiting and condemning such methods exist, it is important that these laws must strictly be enforced so that a proper legal and constitutional culture informs the working of those who wield enormous powers over the person and property of the citizenry.
5. In these cases - it is immaterial whether they are guilty of any offence or not - they were detained illegally in police custody for several days. The police is of course entitled to investigate offences against them within the limits prescribed by the Constitution of the country and the laws; but they cannot be law unto themselves and resort to these impermissible methods. In order that proper lesson goes home, we direct the Government to pay a compensation of Rs. 5000/- to each of these two persons - Ram Chander and Sher Pal - within two weeks from today. We also direct the State Government to recover these sums from the guilty officers after holding an inquiry and as to the apportionment amongst those guilty. The amount shall be tendered by a cheque to Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee which will ensure its due disbursement to the beneficiaries.
6. The State Government will also report to this Court that due prosecutions and disciplinary proceedings, as the case may be, have been launched as per the report of the Crime Branch.
7. With these observations the writ petition is disposed of.
