CustodialDeaths – Jharkhand Reports Nearly 500 Deaths in Custody Since 2018
CustodialDeaths – The Jharkhand government has informed the High Court that close to 500 people have died while in judicial or police custody across the state during the last seven years. The disclosure came during the hearing of a public interest litigation seeking an independent investigation into such deaths.
State Government Shares Custody Death Figures
During proceedings before the Jharkhand High Court, the state government submitted an affidavit detailing deaths reported in prisons and police custody since 2018. According to the document filed by the Principal Secretary of the Department of Home, Prisons and Disaster Management, 437 individuals died while lodged in judicial custody, while around 45 deaths were recorded in police custody during the same period.
The matter came up in connection with a public interest litigation filed by Mumtaz Ansari, who requested a judicial probe into every custodial death reported in the state over recent years. After hearing submissions from both the petitioner and the government, the court reserved its decision on the matter.
Questions Raised Over Judicial Inquiries
The affidavit also revealed that judicial inquiries were conducted in only a limited number of cases involving deaths in custody. According to arguments presented before the court, inquiries were initiated in roughly half of the reported incidents.
Advocate Shadab Ansari, appearing for the petitioner, argued that several deaths occurring inside jails or police stations may involve suspicious circumstances and therefore require independent scrutiny. He told the court that incomplete inquiries and pending investigations raise concerns about transparency and accountability within the system.
The state government further informed the court that investigations remain pending in 11 cases linked to police custody deaths. The disclosure prompted fresh debate over monitoring mechanisms and the pace of investigations in sensitive custodial cases.
Petitioner Refers to Supreme Court and NHRC Guidelines
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel submitted written arguments emphasizing the need for impartial investigations in all custodial death cases. References were made to earlier rulings of the Supreme Court of India as well as guidelines issued by the National Human Rights Commission regarding deaths in custody.
The petitioner stressed that authorities must be held accountable whenever a death takes place inside a prison or police station. According to the submissions, stronger oversight and timely investigations could help reduce future incidents and improve confidence in law enforcement institutions.
Court Discusses Feasibility of Fresh Probes
During the proceedings, the court reportedly observed that many of the incidents had occurred several years ago, making fresh judicial inquiries difficult in some cases. In response, the petitioner’s side urged the court to consider framing clear investigative guidelines for handling custodial deaths in the future.
The hearing has drawn attention to broader concerns surrounding prison conditions, police accountability, and compliance with established human rights procedures. Legal experts believe the High Court’s eventual order could influence how future custodial death investigations are handled within the state.
The case continues to remain significant as rights groups and legal observers closely monitor the court’s response to the disclosures made by the Jharkhand government.