Asha Rani and Ors v. State of Punjab and Ors

o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 207o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o o o oCWP-8936-2018o o o o o o oooooooooooooooooooooooDateoofodecision:o25.09.2023o o ASHAoRANIoANDoOTHERSo o ooo o o ooooooo......Petitionerso o o o o o o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo o o o oooooo.......Respondentsoo o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:o-oo Mr.oJ.S.oBrar,oAdvocateoo o o forotheopetitioners.o o o o o Ms.oNiharikaoSharma,oAAG,oPunjab.oo oo o o o o o *****oo VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o Prayeroinotheopresentowritopetitionoisoforoseekingocompensationo ono accounto ofo unnaturalo deatho ofo Sarabjito Singho whileo beingo lodgedo ino CentraloJail,oPatiala.o

2.o o Learnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheopetitionersocontendso thatoSarabjitoSingh,osonoofopetitionersoNo.1oando2owasoanounderotrialoinocaseoo FIRoNo.oo139odatedo15.06.2013ounderoSectionso15/61/85ooofotheoNDPSoActoato PoliceoStationoRajpuraoCity,oDistrictoPatialaoalongwithooneoSikanderoSingho sono ofo Parkasho Singh,o residento ofo villageo Bhenio Sahib,o Ludhianao City,o Punjab.ooTheopetitionersovisitedoSarabjitoSinghoono15.01.2014,o29.01.2014,o

05.02.2014o aso wello aso ono 19.02.2014o wheno sheo waso informedo byo theo deceasedo thato theo officialso ofo theo jailo areo torturingo himo foro noo reasono oro CWP-8936-2018o o -2-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o rhymeoandothatotheyosuspectoSarabjitooSingho(sinceodeceased)otoobeoinvolvedo inoaofightothatohadobeenotakenoplaceoinotheoJailopremises.ooItoisoaverredothato SarabjitoSinghoapprehendedoeliminationowhileoinocustodyoandoexpressedotheo sameotooher.oo

3.o o Theo petitionero Ashao Ranio waso thereaftero informedo onoo

22.02.2014,o ato aroundo 11:30o A.M.,o o thato Sarabjito Singho hado sufferedo ao Cardiacoarrestoandowasonoomore.oTheyoreachedoatoRajindraoHospital,oPatialao whereootheyowereosooinformedoandowereopressurized,ounderointimidation,otoo signo paperso foro releaseo ofo theo bodyo ando foro cremationo thereof.o Aftero theo releaseoofotheobodyoofoSarabjitoSingh,otheyosawothatothereowereoligatureomarkso aroundotheoneckoofodeceasedoSarabjitoSingh.oItowasothusoevidentothatotheo causeoofodeathoofoSarabjitoSinghowasonotoonoaccountoofoCardiacoArrestobutoono accountoofohanging.oPhotographsoshowingotheoligratureomarkooaroundotheo neckohaveoalsoobeenoattachedoasoAnnexureoP-1.oTheodeathowasothusounnaturalo andowasounderosuspiciousocircumstances,owhichocouldoonlyobeoexplainedobyo respondents.o

4.o o CounselohasoplacedorelianceoonotheoPostoMortemoreportowhereino theocauseoofodeathohasobeenomentionedoasoAsphyxiaodueotoohangingowhicho wasoanteomortemoandosufficientotoocauseodeathoinooordinaryocourseoofonature.o Heofurtheropointsothatoinquestoproceedings/enquiryowasoalsooconductedobyo Judicialo Magistrateo Firsto Class,o Patialao ando thato ino theo saido report,o theo JudicialoMagistrateohadoprimaofacieoreportedoasounder:oo o o "Fromotheoenquiryosooconductedobyome,oIoamoofotheo consideredoopinionothatoSarabjitoSinghohasonotodiedoaonaturalo death.o Aso pero post-mortemo report,o theo deatho ofo undero trialo SarabjitoSinghohadocausedodueotoohanging,ohowever,ofromotheo perusaloofospotoandopicturesobeingoclickedoatosite,oitoisootherwise.o CWP-8936-2018o o -3-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o AsoperotheostoryoputoforthobyotheojailoofficialsoofoCentraloJail,o Patialaoandotheositeoshownotootheoundersigned,otheodoorowaso lockedowhenotheounder-trialoSarabjitoSinghohadotriedotoohango himselfobutotheoperusaloofophotographsorevealedothatotheoallegedo parnaowithowhich,ounderotrialoSarabjitoSinghohasotriedotoohango himselfowasotiedoonotheotopoofotheodoorowhichowasolockedoandoito wasonotopossibleotootieoparnaoinocaseotheodoorowasolocked.o o o Theo perusalo ofo theo statementso giveno byo theo Jailo officialso revealedo thato withino aofewo minuteso ofo lockingo upo ofo barracksounderotrialoSarabjitoSinghohadohangedohimselfoandoito wasoduringotheocheckingoinoChakkioNo.o11oHeadowarderoando Roopo Singho sawo Sarabjito Singho hangingo himselfo whicho iso unbelievable,oasothereowasonoogroundoororeasonoforotheounder-trialotoohangohimselfowhenoheohadometohisomothero2-3odaysobacko andothereowasonoosignoofoanyodepressionoororeasonotooendohiso life.o o o Asoperotheostatementogivenobyoanotherounder-otrialo Pankaj,owhoowasolockedoino32oChakiesoandowasosentotoobaringo No.o5o&o6oono20.2.2014oalongowithoSarabjitoSingh,otheounder-trialo Sarabjito Singho alongo witho Pankajo wereo lodgedo witho 84o personsoandotheiroconditionowasomiserableoandotheyohadoalsoo reportedo abouto theiro problemo too DSPo Centralo Jail.o Ono

21.2.2014,o Pankajo waso informedo abouto theo deatho ofo Sarabjito Singhoandoheowasoalsoothreatenedonototoogiveostatementoagainsto theoofficials.oHeohasoalsoodeposedothatoSarabjitoSinghohasodiedo asoheowasobeatenoup,oabusedoandothreatenedobyotheojailoofficials.o o o Noodoubt,onooinjuriesowereofoundoonotheobodyoofo under-trialoSarabjitoSingh.oHowever,oevenotheoquestionoofohiso hangingo himselfo doeso noto ariseo excepto dueo too reasono ofo anyo threatooropressureobyotheoofficials.oMoreover,omarkoofoligatureo foundoonotheoneckoofotheodeceasedoSarabjitoSinghowasonotothatoofo aoparnaoasoshownobyotheojailoofficialsoatotheospotoasoitoseemsotoo beo marko ofo someo hardo substanceo oro rope.o Aso pero statementso givenobyotheoofficialsofromoCentraloJail,oPatiala,otheodeceasedoisoVISHAL SHARMA CWP-8936-2018o o -4-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o suggestedotoohaveocommittedosuicideobyohangingohimselfobutoIo amoofotheoconsideredoviewothatoheohasonotocommittedosuicideobuto waso showno too haveo diedo dueo too hangingo himself.o Aso pero theo circumstantialoevidenceoandosealedoparna,ounderotrialoSarabjito SinghohadonotodiedodueotoohangingowithothatoParnaoatotheodooro ofobarrackowhereoheowasolodged.oInocase,oheowantedotoocommito suicide,oheocouldohaveodoneoduringotheonightotimeoalsooandoheo couldohaveoshownoanyosignaloofodepressionotootakeoextremeostepo ofohangingohimself.oAsoperotheostatementsogivenobyotheofamilyo memberso ofo Sarabjito Singh,o thereo waso noo reasono foro theo deceasedo Sarabjito Singho too takeo hiso life.o Even,o Io amo ofo theo consideredo viewo thato thereo iso mysteryo behindo theo deatho ofo Sarabjito Singho whicho iso yeto too beo enquiredo into.o Theo histopathologicaloreportoofoViceraoofoSarabjitoSinghoisoyetotoobeo received.o o o Reportoregardingotheodeathoofounder-trialoSarabjito Singhoisosubmittedoforoyourokindoperusaloandonecessaryoactiono andosealedoCDoandopost-mortemoreportoalongowithosealedoparnao witho which,o deceasedo Sarabjito Singho aso allegedo too commito suicide,o iso enclosedo herewitho alongo witho theo statementso ofo witnesses.o

5.o o Heo arguedo thato theo Judicialo Magistrate,o Firsto Classo hado suspectedotheo deathotoobeounnaturalo andohomicidaloando noto suicidal.o Theo respondentojailoauthoritiesohoweverotriedotoobrushoasideotheoevidenceonoticedo andotheoaforesaidoreportobyotheoJudicialoMagistrateobyocastingoaspersionsoono theo Judicialo Magistrateo aso beingo pre-conceivedo ando prejudiced.o Theo saido enquiryoreportohas,ohoweveronotobeenosetoasideoorodisbelievedobyoanyoCourt.o TheopetitionerothereafteroapproachothisoCourtoinoCWP-12953oofo2014otitledoaso "AshaoRanioandoothersoversusoStateoofoPunjaboandoothers"oforoseekingo relief.oTheosaidowritopetitionowas,ohowever,odisposedoofovideoorderodatedoo

21.08.2017odirectingotheoDirectoroGeneraloofoPoliceotooconstituteotheoSIToofo CWP-8936-2018o o -5-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o theoSenioroOfficersoinotheorankoofoIGP,ooDIGoandoAIGotoodetermineotheocauseo ofodeath.ooo

6.o o TheoSITohasothereafteroconductedoanoenquiryointootheoallegationo andohasosubmittedoaoreportoaverringothatotheodeceasedocommittedosuicideobyo hangingowithotheohelpoofomaterialoofoirregularobreadtholikeoanyoclothooroparnaoo ando thato thereo waso noo evidenceo too revealo thato theo deceasedo waso torturedoo beforeohisodeath.o

7.o oooooooooooAggrievedo thereof,o theo presento writo petitiono hado beeno filed,o averringothatoitowasoaocaseoofounnaturalodeath,owhileoinocustody,oandothato thereowereonooimminentoexternalocircumstancesothatowouldodriveoSarabjito Singhotoocommitosuicide,oowhileoinocustody,oandothatotheorespondentoStateo wasoresponsibleotooensureothatoalloadequateomeasuresoareoputoinoplaceoforo ensuringosafetyoandosecurityoofotheoinmates.ooo

8.o o ReplyobyowayoofoaffidavitoofoTarsemoChand,oDeputyoSecretaryo Jailso hado beeno filedo whereino theyo hado averredo thatotheo deceasedo Sarabjito Singhohadocommittedosuicideoandodiedoono22.02.2014oandothatoitowasonotoao caseoofocustodialodeathounderoanyotortureobeingoextendedotoodeceased.oo

9.o o Whileo respondingo too theo reporto submittedo byo theo Judicialo Magistrate,oFirstoClass,oPatiala,odoubtsowereocasteothereuponoonlyoforotheo reasono thato thereo wereo noo scuffleo markso ono theo bodyo ando aso such,o theo possibilityoofotheodeceasedohavingobeenoforciblyohangedowasoruledoout.oItowaso alsooaverredothatotheoSITohasoalreadyoexaminedoallotheoaspectsoandothatotheo theoryopropoundedobyotheopetitionerowasoalsoolookedointo,ohowever,otheosameo wasofoundotoounsubstantiated.ooAoprayeroforodismissaloofotheopresentowrito CWP-8936-2018o o -6-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o

10.o o Ao shorto replyo byo wayo ofo affidavito ofo Sukhamrito Singho Randhawa,oPPS,oDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPolice,oCity-II,oPatialaohadoalsoo beenofiled,oreiteratingoaosimilarostand.oo

11.o o AoseparateoreplyohadobeenofiledoonobehalfooforespondentsoNo.o3o ando6owhereotheyohadoappendedotheoreportoofotheoSITocomprisingoofotheo InspectoroGeneraloofoPolice,oPatialaoZone-I,oTheoDeputyoInspectoroGeneralo ofoPolice,oPatialaorangeoandoAssistantoGeneraloInspectoroofoPolice,oCrimeo Zone,oPatialaoasomembersothereof.oItowasoreportedobyotheoSITothatodeathoofo SarabjitoSinghohadooccurredobecauseoofoAsphyxiaodueotoohangingowithotheo helpo ofo materialo ofo irregularo breadtho likeo anyo clotho oro parna.o Theo SITo reportedo thato ito haso placedo relianceo ono theo statemento ofo theo doctoro whoo conductedotheopostomortemoandostatedothatotheoligatureomarksowereoresultoofo someoirregularothingolikeosomeotypeoofoclothooromayobeoparnaoandowereonoto theomarksothatowereoregularoasoareolikelyotooariseoonoaccountoofohangingobyoao rope.oTheoSIToconcludedothatoitowasoaocaseoofosuicidalodeath.oAccordingly,oao prayeroofodismissaloofotheopresentowritopetitionowasomade.oo

12.o o Counseloforotheopetitionerohasorebuttedothatotheorespondentsohaveo proceededo towardso dismissalo ofo theo claimo ofo theo petitionero onlyo ono theo groundoofoabsenceoofoexternaloinjuryoand/orotheomarksobeingoirregular.oTheyo haveochosenonototooexamineotheoissueoasoreportedobyotheoMagistrateotootheo effectothatotheodoorowhereotheodeceasedoSarabjitoSinghowasofoundohangingo andowasoclaimedobyotheorespondentsotoobeobolted.oInotheoeventotheocontentiono waso correct,o theo parna/clotho whicho waso usedo ino theo commissiono ofo theo offenceocouldonotohaveobeenotiedotootheoupperosilloofotheoironodoor.oTheo designoofotheodoorohadoverticalobarsothatoranothroughohorizontalobarsoinotheo grilledoironodooroofotheocell.oItothusocouldonotohaveofacilitatedotheocommissiono CWP-8936-2018o o -7-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o ofooffenceounlessotheodoorowasoopenedoandodeceasedowasohangedofromotheo horizontaloironobar.o

13.oooooooooooFurther,otheocaseoofotheopetitionerowasoneverotootheoeffectothato deceasedoSarabjitoSinghowasokilledowithotheoaidoofoanyospecificotypeoofoao rope/parna,orather,otheocaseoofotheopetitioneroalwaysohadobeenothatotheodeatho ofoSarabjitoSinghowasoonoaccountoofosuspiciousocircumstancesoandothatoito cannotobeoconstruedoasoaocaseoofosuicide.oTheorespondent-authorities,oinsteado ofoexaminingotheocaseoinoitsoentirety,ochoseotoodrawotheoconclusionotoosupporto theostandothatotheyohadoalreadyotakenoinotheoearlieroproceedings.oHeocontendso thatoinoanyocase,otheorespondentsocannotoseekotooexonerateothemselvesoofo theiroliabilityoinotheoeventoofoanyoharmothatocomesoinotheowayoofoanounderotrialo andothatotheyoareoliableotoocompensateotheopetitionersoforotheounnaturalodeath.oo

14.oo o Onotheootherohand,ocounseloforotheoStateovehementlyoarguesothato thereoisonoolapse/faultoonotheopartoofotheorespondentoagenciesoandoitoisonotoao caseo ofo custodialo deatho whereo anyo tortureo waso extendedo too theo deceasedo SarabjitoSingh.oTheorespondentsoareothusonotoliableotoopayoanyocompensationo onoaccountothereof.oo

15.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo respectiveopartiesoandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoavailableoonorecord.oo

16.o o Theoissueoasoregardsodeathoofoinmates/prisonersowhileoinocustodyo wasoaosubjectomatteroofoconsiderationobeforeotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino theo mattero ofo "Re-Inhumano Conditionso 1382o Prisonso ino Writo Petitiono (Civil)oNo.o406oofo2013odecidedoono15.09.2017oandoreportedoaso(2017)o10o SCCo658owhereinotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldothatotheodeathocanobeo construedoasonaturaloonlyowhenoitoisocausedosolelyobyodeceasedoand/orotheo ageingo process.o Wheno theo causeo ofo deatho iso externalo sucho aso intentionalo CWP-8936-2018o o -8-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o injuryo(Homicide),o(Suicide),oNegligenceoorounintentionaloinjuryo(deathobyo accident),otheosameowouldoremainoasoaounnaturalodeath.oTheoguidelinesowereo accordinglyo issuedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court.o Theo issueo aso regardo compensationo foro unnaturalo deathso ofo theo inmates,o whileo ino prisono waso extensivelyodealtowithobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheoaboveosaidocaseo byo referringo too theo Catenao ofo judgmentso ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto reiteratingotheosaidopositionotimeoandoagain.ooWhileoconcludingoonotheosaido aspectoasoregardsocompensationoforounnaturalodeaths,otheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtodirectedoasounder:o "Compensationoforounnaturalodeathso o41.oTheoissueoofocompensationoforounnaturalodeathsoinocustodyo isonoolongeroresointegra.oo

42.o Oneo ofo theo earliesto caseso whereo thiso Courto grantedo compensationoinoaopetitionounderoArticleo32oofotheoConstitutiono isoRuduloSahov.oStateoofoBihar,o(1983)o4oSCCo141.oThatocaseo waso noto oneo ofo ao custodialo deatho buto waso ao caseo ofo illegalo detentionoevenoafteroacquittaloinoaofullodressotrial.oThisoCourto heldo thato theo petitionero waso entitledo too compensationo foro theo illegalodetentionoandoitorejectedotheostaleoandosterileoobjectionoofo theoStateoGovernmentothatotheopetitioneromayoifosooadvisedofileoao suito too recovero damages.o Thiso Courto tooko theo viewo thato theo refusalotoopassoanoorderoofocompensationowouldobeodoingomereo liposerviceotootheofundamentalorightoofolibertyoofotheopetitionero undero Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono whicho theo Stateo Governmentohadosoogrosslyoviolated.oThisoCourtoobservedothato "ifocivilizationoisonototooperishoinothisocountryoasoitohasoperishedo inosomeoothersotooowelloknownotoosufferomention,oitoisonecessaryo tooeducateoourselvesointooacceptingothat,orespectoforotheorightso ofoindividualsoisotheotrueobastionoofodemocracy."o o43.oAolittleolater,othisoCourtodealtowithoSebastianoM.oHongrayo v.oUnionoofoIndia,o(1984)o3oSCCo82owhichoconcernedoitselfowitho CWP-8936-2018o o -9-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o theodisappearanceoofosomeopersonsowhileoinocustody.oThisoCourto wasoconvincedothatoenablingotheorespondentsotootraceoorolocateo theotwoomissingopersonsoatosuchoaolateostageowouldobeotooshutoitso eyesotoorealityoandotoopursueoaomirage.oItoappearedotoothisoCourto thatotheotwoomissingopersonsohadoactuallyometoaotragicoendoinoano encounteroamountingotooanounnaturalodeath.oThisoCourtoorderedo theo registrationo ofo ano offenceo ando ano investigationo ando alsoo directedopaymentoofocompensationotootheonextoofokin.o o44.oNilabatioBeheraov.oStateoofoOrissa,o(1993)o2oSCCo746owaso aocaseowhereoaopersonowhoowasotakenointoopoliceocustodyoforo investigationoofoaotheft,owasofoundodeadonearoaorailwayotrackotheo nextoday.oOnotheobasisoofoinjuriesoandohandcuffsoonohisowrists,o thiso Courto concludedo thato ito waso ao custodialo deatho ando compensationo waso awardedo undero Articleo 32o ofo theo Constitution.oItowasoheldothatoaopublicolaworemedyowasocertainlyo availableotooclaimocompensationoforotheocontraventionoofohumano rightso ando fundamentalo rightso whicho areo protectedo aso ao guaranteeobyoouroConstitution.oAoreferenceowasoalsoomadeotoo Articleo9(5)oofotheoInternationaloCovenantoonoCiviloandoPoliticalo Rights,o1966owhichoreads:o"Anyoneowhoohasobeenotheovictimoofo unlawfuloarrestoorodetentionoshallohaveoanoenforceableorightotoo compensation."o o45.oAnounnaturalodeathoinojudicialocustodyowhereooneopersono wasokilledobyoaoco-prisonerowasotheosubjectomatteroofodiscussiono inoKewaloPatiov.oStateoofoBihar,o(1995)o3oSCCo600.oItowasoheldo thato aso ao consequenceo ofo imprisonment,o ao prisonero doeso noto ceaseotoohaveoconstitutionalorights,oexceptotootheoextentoheooro sheo haso beeno deprivedo ofo themo ino accordanceo witho law.o Therefore,oevenoaoprisoneroisoentitledotooprotectionoandoifoheoiso killedo whileo ino prison,o ito resultso ino ao deprivationo ofo hiso lifeo contraryotootheolaw,oforowhichotheonextoofokinoareoentitledotoo compensation.oo

46.oInoD.K.Basuov.oStateoofoWestoBengal,o(1997)o1oSCCo416o thiso Courto recognizedo thato ato theo timeo ofo ratificationo ofo theo CWP-8936-2018o o -10-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o InternationaloCovenantoonoCiviloandoPoliticaloRights,o1966oino 1979,otheoGovernmentoofoIndiaomadeoaospecificoreservationotoo theoeffectothatotheoIndianolegalosystemodoesonotorecognizeoaorighto toocompensationoforovictimsoofounlawfuloarrestoorodetentionoando onlyobecameoaopartyotootheocovenant,osubjectotoothisoreservation.o Itowasonotedohowever,othatotheoreservationohasolostoitsorelevanceo ino viewoofotheo lawolaido downobyo thiso Courto ino severalo caseso whereinocompensationohasobeenoawardedoforotheoinfringemento ofoaofundamentalorightoofoaocitizen.oItowasoalsoonotedothatowhileo thereoisonooexpressoprovisionoinotheoConstitutionoforograntoofo compensation,othisorightohasobeenojudiciallyoevolvedoinocasesoofo establishedounconstitutionalodeprivationoofopersonalolibertyooro life.oThisoCourtosummedoupotheolawoinotheofollowingowords:-o o "Thus,otoosumoup,oitoisonowoaowell-acceptedopropositionoino o mosto ofo theo jurisdictions,o thato monetaryo oro pecuniaryo o compensationoisoanoappropriateoandoindeedoanoeffectiveo o ando sometimeso perhapso theo onlyo suitableo remedyo foro o redressalo ofo theo establishedo infringemento ofo theo o fundamentalo righto too lifeo ofo ao citizeno byo theo publico o servantsoandotheoStateoisovicariouslyoliableoforotheiroacts.o o Theoclaimoofotheocitizenoisobasedoonotheoprincipleoofostricto o liabilityotoowhichotheodefenceoofosovereignoimmunityoisonoto o availableo ando theo citizeno musto receiveo theo amounto ofo o compensationofromotheoState,owhichoshallohaveotheorighto o toobeoindemnifiedobyotheowrongdoer.oInotheoassessmentoofo o compensation,o theo emphasiso haso too beo ono theo o compensatoryoandonotoonopunitiveoelement.oTheoobjectiveo o iso too applyo balmo too theo woundso ando noto too punisho theo o transgressoro oro theo offender,o aso awardingo appropriateo o punishmentoforotheooffenceo(irrespectiveoofocompensation)o o mustobeoleftotootheocriminalocourtsoinowhichotheooffenderoiso o prosecuted,owhichotheoState,oinolaw,oisodutyoboundotoodo.o o Theoawardoofocompensationoinotheopublicolawojurisdictiono o isoalsoowithoutoprejudiceotooanyootheroactionolikeocivilosuito o forodamagesowhichoisolawfullyoavailableotootheovictimooro CWP-8936-2018o o -11-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o o theoheirsoofotheodeceasedovictimowithorespectotootheosameo o matteroforotheotortiousoactocommittedobyotheofunctionarieso o ofo theo State.o Theo quantumo ofo compensationo will,o ofo o course,odependouponotheopeculiarofactsoofoeachocaseoando o noo strait-jacketo formulao cano beo evolvedo ino thato behalf.o o Theo reliefo too redresso theo wrongo foro theo establishedo o invasionoofotheofundamentalorightsoofotheocitizen,oundero o theo publico lawo jurisdictiono is,o thus,o ino additiono too theo o traditionaloremediesoandonotoinoderogationoofothem.oTheo o amountoofocompensationoasoawardedobyotheoCourtoando o paidobyotheoStateotooredressotheowrongodone,omayoinoao o givenocase,obeoadjustedoagainstoanyoamountowhichomayobeo o awardedotootheoclaimantobyowayoofodamagesoinoaocivilo o suit."oo

46.oAjaboSinghov.oStateoofoU.P.,o(2000)o3oSCCo521,oMurtioDevio v.oStateoofoDelhi,o(1998)o9oSCCo604oandomoreorecentlyoRohtasho Kumarov.oStateoofoHaryana,o(2013)o14oSCCo290oillustrateothato custodialo deatho iso ao clearo violationo ofo theo prisoner'so rightso underoArticleo21oofotheoConstitutionoandoreliefocouldobeomouldedo byograntingocompensationotootheonextoofokinoofotheodeceased.oo

47.o Ino additiono too theo aboveo decisionso ando severalo otherso renderedobyothisoCourt,oalmostoeveryoHighoCourtoinotheocountryo has,oatooneotimeooroanother,oalsoograntedocompensationoforotheo unnaturalodeathoofoaopersonoinocustody,owhetheroanoundertrialo oroaoconvict.oAofewosuchoillustrationsomayobeonoted:o oa.o Ninao Rajano Pillaio &o Ors.o v.o Uniono ofo India,o 180o

(2011)oDLTo104.o oTheohusbando ofotheo petitionero diedo inojudicialo custodyo dueo too inadequateo medicalo treatmento giveno byo theo jailo authorities.oTheoLt.oGovernoroofoDelhioevenoappointedoao CommissionoofoInquiryoheadedobyoJusticeoLeilaoSeth,oao formero Chiefo Justiceo ofo theo Himachalo Pradesho Higho Courtotooinquireointootheocircumstancesothatoledotootheo deathoofotheopetitioner'sohusband.oTheoDelhioHighoCourto CWP-8936-2018o o -12-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o awardedo compensationo foro theo unnaturalo deatho ino custody.o ob.o Kewalbaio v.o Theo Stateo ofo Maharashtra,o 2013o (3)o BomCRo(Cri)o601.oo Theovictimowasoshotodeadobyoaoconstableowhileoinocustody.o TheoBombayoHighoCourtoawardedocompensationoforotheo unnaturalodeathoinocustody.o oc.o Bhedukio Buragohaino v.o Stateo ofo Assam,o 2013o (2)o GLTo370.o oTheo undertrialo victimo diedo ino judicialo custodyo undero suspiciouso circumstances.o Theo posto mortemo reporto indicatedothatotheocauseoofodeathowasoasphyxiaoasoaoresulto ofo strangulationo ando anteo mortemo injurieso byo blunto weapons.o Theo Gauhatio Higho Courto awardedo compensationoforotheounnaturalodeathoinocustody.oo d.o Madhubeno Adesarao v.o Stateo ofo Gujarat,o R/SCR.A./536/2010o(unreported).o Theo deceasedo waso brutallyo torturedo byo policeo officerso whileoino custodyo ando succumbedo too hiso injuriesoduringo treatment.o Theo post-mortemo reporto revealedo thato theo victimohadomultipleoinjuryomarksowhichowereoanteomortemo ino nature.o Theo Gujarato Higho Courto awardedo compensationoforotheounnaturalodeathoinocustody.o oe.oBanalataoDashov.oStateoofoOrissao&oOrs.,oAIRo2012o Orissao97.o oTheodeceasedowasofoundohangingofromoaotreeowithohiso handso behindo hiso back,o tiedo ato theo wristo witho ao towel.o Sinceo theo victimo waso ino theo custodyo ofo theo prisono authorities,o compensationo waso awardedo byo theo Orissao HighoCourtoforotheounnaturalodeathoinocustody.o of.oAmandeepov.oStateoofoPunjabo&oAnr.,o(2013)o1oPLRo

191.o CWP-8936-2018o o -13-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o oTheo deceasedo waso assaultedo byo ao co-prisonero ando succumbedo too injurieso ino theo hospital.o Dueo too theo unnaturalodeathoinocustody,otheoPunjabo&oHaryanaoHigho Courto awardedo compensationo too theo nexto ofo kino ofo theo deceased.o og.oSmt.oRohinioLingamov.oState,o(2008)o5oMLJo822.oo Theovictimowasomurderedobyohisoenemiesowhileoinoprison.o DueotootheounnaturalodeathoinocustodyotheoMadrasoHigho Courtoawardedocompensationotoohisonextoofokin.o oh.oSabuo&oAnr.ov.oStateoofoKeralao&oOrs.,oCRPoNo.o 1170/2015.o oTheo victimo waso torturedo ino ao policeo stationo ando succumbedotoohisoinjuries.oInoviewoofotheounnaturalodeatho ino custodyo theo Keralao Higho Courto awardedo interimo compensationotootheonextoofokinoofotheodeceasedountilotheo criminalotrialoagainstotheoconcernedopoliceoofficersowaso concluded.o oi.oRavindraoNathoAwasthiov.oStateoofoU.P.,o2009o2oAWCo 2090o(All).oo Theovictimowasoanoadvocateoheldoguiltyoofocontemptoofo court.o Whileo heo waso undergoingo hiso sentence,o heo waso severelyo beateno upo byo theo prisono authoritieso ando succumbedo too hiso injurieso ino hospital.o Dueo too theo unnaturalo deatho ino custody,o theo Allahabado Higho Courto directedopaymentoofocompensationotootheonextoofokinoofotheo deceased.o oj.o Mst.o Madinao v.o Stateo ofo Rajasthano &o Ors.,o 2000o CriLJo4484.oo Theovictimodiedoinopoliceocustodyoonoaccountoofotheouseoofo thirdo degreeo methods.o Dueo too theo unnaturalo deatho ino custody,o compensationo waso awardedo byo theo Rajasthano HighoCourtotootheonextoofokinoofotheodeceased.oo CWP-8936-2018o o -14-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o k.oDukhuramov.oStateoofoChhattisgarho&oOrs.,o2011o(3)o MPHTo81.o oTheodeceasedowasotakenofromotheopoliceostationoinoordero toorecoverostolenoarticlesoallegedotoohaveobeenohiddenobyo himo atoao secreto place.o Heo wasobroughtotoo aopondo ando compelledo too diveo intoo theo pond.o Ato thato timeo heo waso handcuffedoandoinochains.oSubsequently,otheodeadobodyoofo theodeceasedowasofoundofloatingoinotheopond.oInoviewoofo theo unnaturalo deatho whileo theo deceasedo waso ino theo custodyoofopoliceoofficers,otheoChhattisgarhoHighoCourto awardedocompensation.oo l.oSantoshoKumariov.oStateoofoH.P.o&oOrs.,o2008oACJo 1684o Theovictimodiedowhileoheowasoinopoliceocustodyoandoitowaso foundothatoheohadoinjuriesoonohisohead,oshoulders,oeyes,o kneesoandoprivateoparts.oHeodiedoinohospitaloasoheowasonoto givenomedicaloassistanceoinotime.oInoviewoofotheounnaturalo deatho whileo ino custody,o theo Himachalo Pradesho Higho Courto awardedo compensationo too theo nexto ofo kino ofo theo deceased.o om.oStateoofoJammuo&oKashmirov.oSajadoAhmadoDar,o LPAHCoNo.o36/2015.oo Theo victimo diedo dueo too cardioo pulmonaryo arresto whileo detainedo ino theo Districto Jailo undero theo Jammuo ando KashmiroPublicoSafetyoAct,o1978.oItowasoheldothatodeatho wasodueotoocarelessness,onon-seriousnessoandonegligenceo ino noto extendingo medicalo treatment.o Ino viewo ofo theo unnaturalodeathoinocustodyotheoJammuo&oKashmiroHigho Courtoawardedotheocompensationotootheonextoofokinoofotheo deceased.o on.o Mrs.o Meenao Singho v.o Stateo ofo Bihar,o 2001o CriLJo 3573.o oTheovictimowasoattackedoandokilledobyoco-prisonersobyo VISHAL SHARMA theouseoofochhura,oironorodsoandobeltsoetc.oTheonextoofokino CWP-8936-2018o o -15-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o ofotheodeceasedowereoawardedocompensationobyotheoPatnao Higho Courto foro theo unnaturalo deatho ofo theo victimo ino custody.oo o.oLawyersoforoJusticeo(Non-GovernmentoOrganization)o v.oStateoofoM.P.,oAIRo2015oMadhyaoPradesho212.o oTheovictimowasofacingotrialoforooffencesounderoSectiono 302oofotheoIndianoPenaloCode.oWhileoheowasoundergoingo treatmentoinoaohospitaloheowasoshotodeadobyoanounknowno person.oInoviewoofotheounnaturalodeathowhileoinocustodyo theoMadhyaoPradeshoHighoCourtoawardedocompensationo tootheonextoofokinoofotheovictim.oo Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o o Theoneedotoocompensateo o 54.o Theo caseo lawo indicateso thato overo theo lasto severalo decadesothisoCourtoandoalmostoeveryoHighoCourtohasoreliedoono Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono ando thoughto ito appropriateo too compensateotheonextoofokinoforoanounnaturalocustodialodeath.o Theoconstitutionalocourtsocanogooonodeliveringojudgmentoaftero judgmentoonothisoissueoandoawardocompensation,obutounlessotheo Stateorealizesothatocustodialodeathoisoitselfoaocrimeoandomonetaryo compensationoisonotonecessarilyotheoonlyoappropriateoreliefothato cano beo grantedo too theo nexto ofo kino ofo theo deceased,o sucho unnaturalo deathso willo continueo unabated.o Therefore,o whato iso neededoisoaoreviewoofoalloprisonsowithoaohumanitarianonuance.o o 55.o Overo theo lasto severalo years,o thereo haveo beeno discussionsoonotheorightsoofovictimsoandooneoofotheorightsoofoao victimoofocrimeoisotooobtainocompensation.oSchemesoforovictimo compensationohaveobeenoframedobyoalmostoeveryoStateoandothato isoaowholesomeodevelopment.oButoitoisoimportantoforotheoCentralo GovernmentoandotheoStateoGovernmentsotoorealizeothatopersonso whoosufferoanounnaturalodeathoinoaoprisonoareoalsoovictimso-o sometimesoofoaocrimeoandosometimesoofonegligenceoandoapathyo oroboth.oThereoisonooreasonoatoallotooexcludeotheironextoofokino CWP-8936-2018o o -16-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o fromo receivingo compensationo onlyo becauseo theo victimo ofo ano unnaturalodeathoisoaocriminal.oHumanorightsoareonotodependento onotheostatusoofoaopersonobutoareouniversaloinonature.oOnceotheo issueoisolookedoatofromothisoperspective,oitowillobeoappreciatedo thatomerelyobecauseoaopersonoisoaccusedoofoaocrimeooroisotheo perpetratoroofoaocrimeoandoinoprisonocustody,othatopersonocouldo neverthelessobeoaovictimoofoanounnaturalodeath.oHenceotheoneedo toocompensateotheonextoofokin."oo (Emphasisosupplied)o

17.o o Further,o theo undisputedo facto remainso thato ito waso ao caseo ofo unnaturalodeathoandothatotheoagenciesowereorequiredotoodetermineotheoexacto natureoandocauseoofodeath.oApparently,otheoSITohasonotoconsideredotheoaspecto ofotheopossibilityoofocommittingosuicideofromotheodoorowhereotheooffenceso statedotoohaveobeenocommitted.oAbsenceoofoanoexternalomarkoofoinjuryocannoto alwaysobeoaoconclusiveoproofothatoitowasonotoaocaseoofohomicidalodeathobyoanyo ofotheofellowoinmates.oSurprisingly,otheoSITorecordedoaoconclusionoabouto deceasedohavingocommittedosuicideobutoofferedonooreasonsooroexplanationoaso toowhyoheochoseotoodooso.oOnceoinvestigationowasobeingodone,otheoSITowaso expectedo too findo reasonso thato ledo too theo deceasedo committingo suicide.o Howeveronoosuchoexplanationohasobeenooffered.o

18.o o Atotheosameotimeothereoisonooresponseoaboutotheofactothatotheocello doorodesignocouldonotohaveosupportedohangingosinceotheohorizontalobarowaso mucholoweroandothereowasonooplaceowhereoheocouldobeohanged,oasoperotheo versionoofotheoSIT.oTheseocrucialoquestionohaveothusobeenoleftounanswered.o

19.o o However,o withouto delvingo mucho furthero ino theo matter,o ito iso evidentothatodisputedoquestionsoofofactoariseoforodeterminationoinotheopresento caseoinorelationotootheocauseoofodeath,otheocircumstancesounderowhichosucho deathoensued,otheodeterminationoofocompensationoconsideringotheoincome,oVISHAL SHARMA CWP-8936-2018o o -17-ooooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:126614o o theoage,otheodependency,otheomultiplieroasowellotheoprospectusoetc.oandoalsoo theo apportionmento ofo compensationo amongsto theo partieso herein.o o Allo theo disputedoquestionsoofofactocannotobeogoneointoobyothisoCourtoinoexerciseoofoitso writojurisdiction.oHowever,otoobalanceotheoequities,oanointerimocompensationo ofo Rs.o 5,00,000/-o o iso awardedo ino favouro ofo theo petitioners,o 50%o ofo theo aforesaidoamountoshallobeoreleasedoinofavouroofotheopetitioneroNo.1-Ashao Ranio whileo theo remainingo 50%o shallo beo releasedo equallyo amongsto theo petitionersoNo.2otoo4.o

20.o o Theoamountoasoawardedobeoreleasedowithinoaoperiodoofothreeo monthsooforeceiptoofoaocertifiedocopyoofothisoorder.o

21.ooooooooooTheopetitionersomay,oifosooadvised,otakeorecourseotoofilingoano appropriateo proceedingo beforeo theo competento Courto foro seekingo compensation.o

22.o ooooooooooTheoawardoofotheoaforesaidointerimocompensationoisothusowithouto prejudiceotootheorightsoofotheopetitionerotootakeorecourseotootheoremedyooofo civilo lawo foro seekingo enhancement/granto ofo compensation.o Needlesso too mentionothatotheoperiododuringowhichotheopresentopetitionoremainopendingo beforeothisoCourtoshallobeotakenointooconsiderationobyotheocompetentoCourto whileodeterminingotheolimitation.ooo o o Theowritopetitionoisoaccordinglyodisposedoof.oo o o oo o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo SEPTEMBERo25,o2023o o o o o oooooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo