In the wake of several custodial torture incidents reported from different parts of Tamil Nadu, the state police leadership has rolled out a fresh set of instructions aimed at strengthening safeguards for people detained at police stations and improving accountability among officers.
The directives, issued by Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Agarwal and Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Amalraj, have been circulated across the state and are intended to reduce the risk of custodial abuse and deaths.
Prior Approval Required for Lock-Up Detention
Under the new guidelines, suspects and accused persons cannot be placed in police station lock-ups without the approval of the concerned inspector. Police stations have also been instructed to maintain detailed records of every detention in the general diary and other mandatory registers.
The order emphasises proper documentation and supervisory oversight whenever individuals are brought into police custody.
Medical Examination and Continuous Monitoring
Police personnel have been directed to carefully observe the physical and mental condition of all detainees. If an arrested individual appears intoxicated or bears visible injuries, officers must ensure that the person undergoes a medical examination at a government hospital before any questioning takes place.
The guidelines further stress that investigations involving arrested persons should be completed promptly and that detainees must be produced before the appropriate court without avoidable delays for judicial remand.
Special Vigilance for Overnight Detention
For cases involving serious or violent offences where an accused needs to remain at a police station overnight, inspectors and sub-inspectors have been instructed to exercise heightened vigilance. The aim is to ensure the safety of detainees and prevent any untoward incidents while they remain in police custody.
The fresh measures come amid increased scrutiny of custodial violence in the state.
Reacting recently to the conviction of nine police personnel in the 2020 custodial torture and deaths of P. Jayaraj and P. Bennix, Amnesty International described the verdict as a rare instance of accountability in cases of police abuse. However, the organisation argued that punishment alone would not address the systemic issues behind custodial violence and called for broader reforms to strengthen police oversight and accountability mechanisms.
