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Police Encounters : Guidelines to be Followed

On 23rd November 2014 Supreme in its judgement in the, CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1255 OF 1999, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) & Anr. vs State of Maharashtra & Ors. gave a detail guidelines which needed to be followed before and after police encounter takes place. The guidelines issued to be followed in the matters of investigating police encounters in the cases of death as the standard procedure for thorough, effective and independent investigation are as follows : 
  1. Whenever the police is in receipt of any intelligence or tip-off regarding criminal movements or a  activities pertaining to the commission of grave criminal offence, it shall be reduced into writing in  some form (preferably into case diary) or in some electronic form. Such recording need not reveal  details of the suspect or the location to which the party is headed. If such intelligence or tip-off is  received by a higher authority, the same may be noted in some form without revealing details of the  suspect or the location.
  2. If pursuant to the tip-off or receipt of any intelligence, as above, encounter takes place and firearm is used by the police party and as a result of that, death occurs, an FIR to that effect shall be  registered and the same shall be forwarded to the court under Section 157 of the Code without any  delay. While forwarding the report under Section 157 of the Code, the procedure prescribed under  Section 158 of the Code shall be followed.  
  3.  An independent investigation into the incident/encounter shall be conducted by the CID or police  team of another police station under the supervision of a senior officer (at least a level above the  head of the police party engaged in the encounter). The team conducting inquiry/investigation shall,  at a minimum, seek:

    (a) To identify the victim; colour photographs of the victim should be taken;

    (b) To recover and preserve evidentiary material, including blood-stained earth, hair, fibers and threads, etc., related to the death;

    (c) To identify scene witnesses with complete names, addresses and telephone numbers and obtain their statements (including the statements of police personnel involved) concerning the death; 

    (d) To determine the cause, manner, location (including preparation of rough sketch of topography of the scene and, if possible, photo/video of the scene and any physical evidence) and time of death as well as any pattern or practice that may have brought about the death; 

    (e) It must be ensured that intact fingerprints of deceased are sent for chemical analysis. Any other fingerprints should be located, developed, lifted and sent for chemical analysis;

    (f) Post-mortem must be conducted by two doctors in the District Hospital, one of them, as far as possible, should be Incharge/Head of the District Hospital. Post-mortem shall be videographed and preserved;

    (g) Any evidence of weapons, such as guns, projectiles, bullets and cartridge cases, should be taken and preserved. Wherever applicable, tests for gunshot residue and trace metal detection should be performed. 

    (h) The cause of death should be found out, whether it was natural death, accidental death, suicide or homicide

     
  4. A Magisterial inquiry under Section 176 of the Code must invariably be held in all cases of death  which occur in the course of police firing and a report thereof must be sent to Judicial Magistrate  having jurisdiction under Section 190 of the Code.
  5. The involvement of NHRC is not necessary unless there is serious doubt about independent and  impartial investigation. However, the information of the incident without any delay must be sent to  NHRC or the State Human Rights Commission, as the case may be.
  6. The injured criminal/victim should be provided medical aid and his/her statement recorded by the  Magistrate or Medical Officer with certificate of fitness.
  7. It should be ensured that there is no delay in sending FIR, diary entries, panchnamas, sketch, etc.,  to the concerned Court.
  8. After full investigation into the incident, the report should be sent to the competent court under  Section 173 of the Code. The trial, pursuant to the chargesheet submitted by the Investigating  Officer, must be concluded expeditiously.
  9. In the event of death, the next of kin of the alleged criminal/victim must be informed at the  earliest.
  10. Six monthly statements of all cases where deaths have occurred in police firing must be sent to  NHRC by DGPs. It must be ensured that the six monthly statements reach to NHRC by 15th day of  January and July, respectively. The statements may be sent in the following format along with post  mortem, inquest and, wherever available, the inquiry reports:

     
    (i) Date and place of occurrence.


     
    (ii) Police Station, District.


     
    (iii) Circumstances leading to deaths:
             (a) Self defence in encounter.
           
             (b) 
    In the course of dispersal of unlawful assembly.       
             (c) 
    In the course of affecting arrest.

     
    (iv) Brief facts of the incident.


     
    (v) Criminal Case No.


     
    (vi) Investigating Agency.


     
    (vii) Findings of the Magisterial Inquiry/Inquiry by Senior Officers:
             (a) Disclosing, in particular, names and designation of police officials, if found responsible for the death; and       
             (b) W
    hether use of force was justified and action taken was lawful.
  11. If on the conclusion of investigation the materials/evidence having come on record show that  death had occurred by use of firearm amounting to offence under the IPC, disciplinary action against  such officer must be promptly initiated and he be placed under suspension. 
  12. As regards compensation to be granted to the dependants of the victim who suffered death in a  police encounter, the scheme provided under Section 357-A of the Code must be applied. 
  13. The police officer(s) concerned must surrender his/her weapons for forensic and ballistic  analysis, including any other material, as required by the investigating team, subject to the  rights  under Article 20 of the Constitution. 
  14. An intimation about the incident must also be sent to the police officer’s family and should the  family need services of a lawyer / counselling, same must be offered. 
  15. No out-of-turn promotion or instant gallantry rewards shall be bestowed on the concerned  officers soon after the occurrence. It must be ensured at all costs that such rewards are  given/recommended only when the gallantry of the concerned officers is established beyond doubt. 
  16. If the family of the victim finds that the above procedure has not been followed or there exists a  pattern of abuse or lack of independent investigation or impartiality by any of the functionaries as  above mentioned, it may make a complaint to the Sessions Judge having territorial jurisdiction over  the place of incident. Upon such complaint being made, the concerned Sessions Judge shall look into  the merits of the complaint and address the grievances raised therein. 
 As per supreme courts order The above guidelines will also be applicable to grievous injury cases in  police encounter, as far as possible.

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