Indian top court terms custodial deaths ‘a blot’ on system
APHC says IIOJK worst affected as custodial killings, torture go unpunished
Srinagar: India’s Supreme Court has termed custodial violence and deaths a “blot on the system”. The remarks came while hearing a suo motu case regarding non-functional CCTV cameras in police stations, after eleven custodial deaths were reported in Rajasthan in the first eight months of 2025.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said, “You can’t have deaths in custody. This country will not tolerate this,” as it pulled up authorities for failing to ensure accountability.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta conceded that no one could justify custodial deaths. The court also questioned the Modi government for failing to file its compliance affidavit on the installation of CCTV cameras despite repeated directives.
The bench noted that only 11 states had submitted compliance reports, while several others — including New Delhi— had not. It warned that principal secretaries of home departments in defaulting states would be summoned on December 16 if compliance was not completed. The court also reiterated its 2020 direction that CCTV cameras cover all lock-ups, corridors and entry/exit points to prevent rights abuses.
Meanwhile, APHC leaders in their statements in Srinagar termed the Indian Supreme Court’s observations as “reflection of only the tip of the iceberg,” as Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains the worst-affected territory with hundreds of custodial torture cases, disappearances and deaths reported over the decades.
The leaders said that under draconian laws like the PSA and UAPA, detainees in IIOJK are routinely subjected to inhuman treatment, while families receive no investigations, FIRs or access to justice. They pointed out recent cases in Kupwara, Srinagar and Islamabad districts where detainees died or emerged severely injured after interrogation, yet no officer was held accountable.
