be appointed to carry out surprise visits to police stations to see that all legal safeguards are being enforced. C. Directions by the Supreme Court 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Female suspects must be kept in separate lock-ups under the supervision of female constables. Interrogation of females must be carried out in the presence of female policepersons. A person arrested without a warrant must be immediately informed about the grounds of arrest and the right to obtain bail. As soon as an arrest is made, the police should obtain from the arrested person, the name of a relative or friend whom s/he would like to be informed about the arrest. The relative or friend must then be informed by the police. The police must inform the nearest Legal Aid Committee as soon as an arrest is made and the person is taken to the lock-up. The Legal Aid Committee should take immediate steps to provide legal assistance to the arrested person at State cost, provided such person is willing to accept legal assistance. The magistrate before whom an arrested person is produced shall inquire from the arrested person whether s/he has any complaints against torture and maltreatment in police custody. The magistrate shall also inform such person of her/his right to be medically examined. Women in custody are particularly vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse. Courts take a very serious view of complaints regarding custodial rape or harassment. Of late, the National and State Human Rights Commissions and the Womens’ Commission are also playing an increasingly proactive role to see such instances do not go unpunished. It is the duty of the officer in-charge of a police station/post to ensure that women are not harmed and searches of their person are carried out only by women with strict regard to decency. Section 54 Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 [CrPC] confers the right to an arrested person to get her/himself medically examined to afford evidence to disprove the commission of an offence by her/him or establish the commission of an offence by any other person against her/his body. The arrested person can ask to be medically examined either at the time s/he is produced before a magistrate or at any time during the period of detention. 78 Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers