Custodial Deaths In India: Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have registered maximum custodial deaths compared to other states in the last two years, informed minister of state for home Nityanand Rai on Tuesday in his reply to the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session of the Parliament.
A total of 501 and 451 cases of custodial deaths were registered in Uttar Pradesh in 2021-22 and 2020-21, respectively, and 257 and 185 such cases were registered in West Bengal during the same periods, said Rai in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Total Custodial Deaths In India
The cases in the two states were among the total 2,544 and 1,940 cases of custodial deaths registered across the country during 2021-22 and 2020-21 according to the information provided by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), he noted.
Stating that ‘police’ and ‘public Order’ are State subjects according to the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, Rai mentioned that it is primarily the responsibility of the state government concerned to ensure the protection of the human rights of the citizens.
Total Number Of Deaths In Police Encounters
Jammu & Kashmir has topped the list of states in terms of cases registered in respect of death in police encounters with 45 cases in 2021-22. A total of 151 and 82 cases in respect of death in police encounters were registered across the country in 2021-22 and 2020-21, respectively.
Pointing out that the central government issues advisories from time to time and the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 stipulates the establishment of the NHRC and State Human Rights Commissions to look into the alleged human rights violations by public servants.
"When complaints of alleged human rights violations are received by the NHRC, action is taken by the Commission as per the provisions laid down under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Workshops/seminars are also organised by the NHRC from time to time to sensitise public servants for better understanding of human rights and, in particular, the protection of rights of persons in custody," he said.
(With IANS inputs)