New Delhi: Chief Justice of India, Justice NV Ramana said that the threat to human rights and bodily integrity are the “highest in police stations”. The CJI said this while expressing concern about custodial torture at a function on Sunday.
Calling human rights and dignity “sacrosanct”, Justice Ramana said, “custodial torture and other police atrocities are problems which still prevail in our society.”
“In spite of constitutional declarations and guarantees, lack of effective legal representation at the police stations is a huge detriment to arrested/detained persons. The decisions taken in these early hours will later determine the ability of the accused to defend himself,” The CJI was quoted as saying by NDTV in his address at an event organised by NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan.
He pointed out that the way ahead to keep police excesses in check was “dissemination of information about the constitutional right to legal aid and availability of free legal aid services”.
“The installation of display boards and outdoor hoardings in every police station or prison is a step in this direction. However, NALSA must also actively carry out nationwide sensitization of Police Officers,” Justice Ramana said while launching a legal services app.
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