Survey Finds Kerala Police Most Likely To Follow Arrest Procedures, Karnataka Ranks Lowest

A recent study on police torture and accountability has revealed that Karnataka police are the least likely to adhere to arrest procedures, whereas Kerala police are the most compliant.

According to the 'Status of Policing in India Report 2025: Police Torture and (Un)Accountability', 94% of surveyed police personnel in Kerala stated that arrest procedures were "always" followed, while 6% said they were followed "sometimes." Notably, none reported that procedures were "rarely or never" followed.

In contrast, Karnataka ranked at the bottom, with 70% of respondents admitting that arrest provisions are "rarely or never" complied with, while only 13% stated they were "always" followed and 17% said "sometimes." Jharkhand also showed poor compliance, with 43% stating that they "rarely or never" followed arrest procedures, while Bihar had an even higher non-compliance rate of 51%.

The study, conducted by NGO 'Common Cause' in collaboration with Lokniti, CSDS, and the Lal Family Foundation, emphasizes that these findings reflect police perceptions of procedural compliance rather than actual compliance levels.

Preference for Minor Punishment Over Legal Trial

The survey also found that a significant number of police personnel in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka believe that giving minor punishments is preferable to a legal trial.

Odisha (82%), Rajasthan (77%), and Kerala (72%) showed the highest preference for following due process.

Conversely, Jharkhand (55%), Andhra Pradesh (51%), and Karnataka (51%) exhibited a stronger inclination toward minor punishments instead of legal trials for minor offenses.

Police in urban areas (40%) were more likely to favor minor punishments compared to 32% in rural areas.

Justification of Mob Violence

The study also examined police attitudes toward mob justice. Gujarat police were the most likely to justify mob violence against suspects, with 57% supporting it "to a great extent," while Karnataka followed at 27%. On the other hand, Kerala police were the least likely to justify such actions, with no respondents endorsing mob punishment.