669 deaths in police custody in last 5 years: Home Ministry

New Delhi:

A total of 669 cases of custodial deaths in police custody were registered across the country in the last five years from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told the Rajya Sabha.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the House in a written reply citing data provided by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Mr. Rai said that a total of 175 cases of death in police custody were registered during 2021-2022, 100 in 2020-2021, 112 in 2019-2021, 136 in 2018-2019 and 146 in 2017-2018.

As per the information provided by the NHRC, Shri Rai further said, “The NHRC awarded monetary relief of Rs 5,80,74,998 in 201 cases and disciplinary action in one case during the period from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2022 Recommended. , in incidents of death in police custody.

The minister, however, clarified that police and public order are state subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.

He said that it is primarily the responsibility of the concerned state government to ensure the protection of human rights.

However, Mr. Rai said, the central government issues advisories from time to time and also the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHR), 1993, which prescribes the setting up of the NHRC and State Human Rights Commissions to look into alleged human rights violations. Contravention by public servants.

When the NHRC receives complaints of alleged human rights violations, the minister said, the commission takes action as per the provisions laid down under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

“NHRC also organizes workshops and seminars from time to time to sensitize the civil servants for better understanding of human rights and protection of rights of persons in particular in custody,” Rai said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)