It is important to understand that any person detained by the police,
whether for questioning, for the purpose of verification of identity, to test
alcohol level, etc. is in the custody of police and is, therefore, under the
care of the State. It is the responsibility of the State to ensure protection of
the human rights of all persons in its custody.
C. Search and Seizure
Every citizen has the right to be free from unreasonable government
intrusion into his or her person, home, business, and property. Lawmakers
and the courts have put in place legal safeguards to ensure that law
enforcement officers conduct searches and seizures only under certain
circumstances, and through specific methods.
D. Right to Counsel
Article 22 of the Constitution of India guarantees an accused the right to a
lawyer. Hon’ble Supreme Court in Hussainara Khatoon (IV) has held that
“…the right to free legal service is clearly an essential ingredient to a
reasonable, fair and just procedure for a person accused of an offence and
it must be held implicit in the guarantee of Article 21 and the status under
constitutional mandate to provide a lawyer to an accused person if the
circumstances of the case and the needs of justice so required…”
The right to counsel applies during all custodial interrogations (i.e. the accused
has been brought into police custody for questioning) and at all critical stages
of a prosecution after formal proceedings have begun. These stages include
post-indictment interrogations, arraignment, guilty plea, and trial.
E. Right to a Speedy Trial
The Constitution provides an accused the right to a speedy trial. Although
this right is not explicitly stated in the constitution, it has been interpreted
by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the judgment of Hussainara
Khatoon. This judgment mandates that an investigation in trial should be
held “as expeditiously as possible”.
The accused is not to be detained in police custody for more than 24 hours
without being produced before a Magistrate. An officer not below the rank
of sub-inspector is to produce the accused to a Judicial Magistrate who may
allow the accused to be held remanded to fifteen days in police custody. If a
Judicial Magistrate is not available, an Executive Magistrate so empowered
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