SC issues notices on fake encounters and custodial deaths

New Delhi, July 30 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre, all States and Union Territories and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on a petition seeking directions to the Government to frame a transparent National Policy to deal with the cases of fake encounters and custodial deaths in the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran issued notices after hearing the counsel for the petitioner, who contended that there are no State Human Rights Commission in several states and there is no mechanism to deal with the cases of fake encounters and deaths of people in police custody due to torture and beating.

The petitioner M Ramesh Reddy has also sought direction to the Government to frame a uniform statutory policy/scheme in consultation with NHRC for monitoring, investigating and evaluating encounter deaths in India.

The petitioner has also prayed for appointing a monitoring committee to look into the cases related to police encounters during the last ten years in different parts of the country and action taken by the authorities concerned in that regard.

The petitioner has pleaded with the Court to issue an appropriate writ to the authorities concerned regarding the action taken in relation to the guidelines framed by this Court from time to time as well as the guidelines issued by NHRC through its letter dated December 12, 2003.

UNI