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2023 Supreme(Mad) 2624

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
P. DHANABAL, J.
M. Jeya – Appellant
Versus
The Principal Secretary Home Department Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai & Others – Respondents
W.P.(MD)No. 5259 of 2021
Decided On : 18-08-2023

Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioner:R. Karunanithi, Advocate. For the Respondents: R.M. Anbunithi, Additional Public Prosecutor.

The main legal point established in the judgment is the court's authority to award compensation for custodial torture under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, and the calculation of compensation based on relevant factors such as the deceased's age and future prospects.

Headnote:

Custodial Torture - Compensation - Sections 174, 304(ii) of IPC - Violation of life and personal liberty - Sanction of compensation - Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India - [Custodial Torture] - [Compensation] - [Sections 174, 304(ii) of IPC] - The court awarded compensation of Rs. 25,00,000 to the deceased family members and directed the respondents to pay the amount within two months. The court also addressed the recovery of the amount from the erring officials and the prayer for providing a government job to the petitioner's family.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner filed a Writ Petition seeking compensation and a government job for the death of her son, who died due to police custodial torture. The police had taken her son into custody, and he sustained severe injuries, leading to his death. The case was investigated by the CBCID, and a final report was filed against the erring officials. The petitioner sought compensation of Rs. 50,00,000.

Finding of the Court:

The court observed that the deceased died while in police custody, and therefore, invoked its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to award compensation for custodial torture by the police. The court also addressed the quantum of compensation based on the deceased's age and future prospects, ultimately awarding Rs. 25,00,000 to the deceased family members.

Issues: The main issue was the petitioner's claim for compensation and a government job for the death of her son due to police custodial torture.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the deceased's death while in police custody warranted the award of compensation. The court calculated the compensation based on the deceased's age, future prospects, and other relevant factors. The court also addressed the recovery of the amount from the erring officials and the prayer for providing a government job to the petitioner's family.

Final Decision: The court awarded a compensation of Rs. 25,00,000 to the deceased family members and directed the respondents to pay the amount within two months. The court also addressed the recovery of the amount from the erring officials and the prayer for providing a government job to the petitioner's family.

JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to pay a just and reasonable compensation for a sum of Rs. 50,00,000/-(Fifty lakhs Rupees) and to grant a government job to the petitioner’s family for the death of deceased Muthu Karthick who died due to police custodial torture.)

This writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents to pay a just and reasonable compensation for a sum of Rs.50,00,000/-(Rupees Fifty lakhs) and to grant a government job to the petitioner’s family for the death of deceased Muthu Karthick who died due to police custodial torture.

2. According to the petitioner, she is the mother of the deceased namely Muthu Karthick. At the time of occurrence her son was 17 years old. The said deceased(Muthu Karthick) was working as cleaner in earth mover vehicle. Earlier on 03.01.2019 one Kalyanasundaram gave a complaint alleging that some jewels were stolen from his house. In this connection the police officers attached to the S.S.Colony Police Station have enquired about the theft and thereafter the police came to their area on 01.07.2019 at about 11.30 a.m.,and directed some persons for attending enquiry. Based on the police instructions on 07.01.2019 at about 7.00 pm., the petitioner and her son/Muthu Karthick along with others appeared before the Inspector of Police attached to S.S.Colony Police Station and the Inspector interrogated them. Thereafter on 08.01.2019 at about 07.00 am., the petitioner''s son went to Panthalkudi with regard to his work at Ramco Cement Manufacturing factory. Thereafter on 13.01.2019 at 01.00 pm., the Inspector of Police attached to S.S Colony Police Station, Sub Inspector Satheesh and Police Ravi entered into the house of the petitioner without informing anything and searched for thefted articles in Almirah, suit case and other places at their house. After knowing that the said missing jewels were not in the house they left. Thereafter the petitioner’s son cell number was not reached after 13.01.2019 evening onwards. Thereafter the husband of the petitioner rushed towards Panthalkudi area on 15.01.2019 to trace out his son since his cell phone was switched off. In the meantime, on 15.01.2019 at about 10.00 p.m., the petitioner’s son called her and he could not speak, therefore the petitioner learnt that her son was under some persons illegal custody. Thereafter on 16.01.2019 at about 3.00 pm., a phone call was received from her son and insisted her to bring Identity cards, School certificates and other proof urgently. Therefore she went to the police Station there the Sub Inspector of Police Satheesh and Inspector of Police have obtained her signature in blank white paper and thereafter the police have taken her Son on the same day at about 6.30 pm., to the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai.

3. Thereafter at about 7.30 p.m., he was produced before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.III, Madurai for remand. At that time the learned Magistrate has informed the police to produce her Son on 18.01.2019 before the Juvenile Justice Board. Thereafter only the petitioner came to know that Crime No.24 of 2019 for the offences under Section 387 and 506(ii) of IPC was registered against her son. On the same day at about 9.00 pm., when they reached home along with their son he could not open his mouth and was struggling to speak and even struggling for normal breathing. Immediately they have taken him to Vijayaraj Speciality Hospital for treatment and the doctor advised them to admit in the hospital since he sustained multiple injuries and was having severe fever. At that time her son told that one Inspector of Police, Sub Inspector of Police Satheesh and one Ravi and another one police Ravi had taken him and they assaulted and thereby he sustained injuries. Further her son was under illegal custody from 13.01.2019 to 16.01.2019 and the doctor in the Vijayaraj Speciality Hospital

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