By TCN News,
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh tops the states in atrocities against prisoners by police. In the last three and half years, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received 1134 complaints of such atrocities. Uttar Pradesh has lion’s share – 538. The National Capital Delhi is at No. 2 with 143 complaints.
Among the top six states on this count, Haryana (88) is at No. 3, Rajasthan (52) at No. 4, Bihar (49) at No. 5 followed by Maharashtra (42) at No. 6.
A State-wise Statement, indicating the number of complaints received by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) regarding alleged harassment to prisoners in prison during the last three years and current year (up to 31.07.2011), is as under:
|
STATE/UT |
2008-09 |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
|
ANDHRA PRADESH |
1 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
|
ASSAM |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
BIHAR |
17 |
15 |
10 |
7 |
|
GOA |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
GUJARAT |
11 |
16 |
5 |
2 |
|
HARYANA |
20 |
33 |
20 |
15 |
|
HIMACHAL PRADESH |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
JAMMU & KASHMIR |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
KARNATAKA |
6 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
|
KERALA |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
MADHYA PRADESH |
5 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
|
MAHARASHTRA |
25 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
|
ORISSA |
4 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
|
PUNJAB |
7 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
|
RAJASTHAN |
18 |
15 |
14 |
5 |
|
TAMILNADU |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
UTTAR PRADESH |
152 |
145 |
178 |
63 |
|
WEST BENGAL |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
CHANDIGARH |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
DELHI |
47 |
48 |
41 |
7 |
|
CHATTISGARH |
2 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
|
JHARKNAND |
7 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
|
UTTARAKHAND |
8 |
10 |
7 |
2 |
|
TOTAL |
339 |
325 |
346 |
124 |
However, NHRC did not make any recommendation for disciplinary action/prosecution of the erring Public Servants. As per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, “Police” and “Public Order” are State Subjects. It is for the State Governments to take action in every crime. In view of this, the Central Government does not intervene directly in such cases, but only issues advisories, while the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issues guidelines and recommendations.
A bill titled “The Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010” which was introduced in Lok Sabha on 26.04.2010 and passed on 06.05.2010, has since been considered by a Rajya Sabha Select Committee. The Bill, inter alia, provides for punishment to those involved in offence of torture, said Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 16th August.