Singhvi moves SC for mechanism to probe encounter killings, custodial deaths

Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi moved the Supreme Court on Monday seeking creation of a special mechanism for time-bound investigation by judicial magistrates into encounter killings and custodial deaths.

New Delhi: Senior Advocate and Congress member, Abhishek Manu Singhvi has moved to the Supreme Court seeking directions to the government to ratify the Convention against Torture and other cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,1987 and incorporate its provisions into domestic Indian Law.

Singhvi, who was an amicus curiae, in the case wherein the top court had passed a slew of directions to prevent custodial violence/death, has filed the petition in the wake of various incidents of police casualties lately.

He sought to set up Human Rights Courts and directions to all the state and UTs to establish a Human Rights Commission and ensure that all vacancies are promptly filled.

"Direct that in every district the District and the Sessions Judge should appoint a judicial magistrate especially earmarked for carrying on time-bound investigation in all the cases of custodial deaths/encounter killings. It should also be made mandatory that such Judicial Magistrate be aided by the District and Police administration to the extent he/she requires and further that such investigation be carried out without interference from the police station in question," read the petition.

Judicial Magistrate shall conduct a preliminary enquiry within a week, complete the investigations into custodial killings/deaths within 2 months and trail should be completed in a year, added Singhvi.

Other suggestions include, creation of a permanent committee in states headed by the Chief Justice or HC judge nominated by CJ, with one independent member of civil society and one senior government official not below the rank of Joint Secretary to monitor the investigation, suspension of policemen accused, completion of departmental proceedings to be concluded in 4 months(after preliminary enquiry) and cases to be prosecuted by Special Public Prosecutor.

Installation of CCTV cameras in all the police stations and prisons was also suggested by Singhvi.