Hcmrmr, the Magistrate who held the inquiry hsld no one gullty and stated that the cause of
death was due to a fall from a moving tempo and no adon was taken against the policemen
named In the FIR. According to the magiaterid hquiry, the deceased was taken into custody
by Shri U.R. Rathd, SI and his staff of the DlPolice Station h a case no.33/96under
aectlons 447,504 506(2)and 323 of IPC on 4 July 1998.While being taken to the police station
in a tempo from his village the deceased jumped out from the tempo and sustained head
injurlss and eventually died on the same day In the hospital. The Magiatrate, after listing the
Injuries sustained, noted that the final cause of death as 'Inttacranial haemorrhage shock dwe
to htmd injury'. The Magistrats In his inquiry found the conduct of the officials in the matter
and the facts surrounding the death of the prisoner raised reasonable doubt that the death
could not have been -used by the alleged attempt to escape by h e prisoner.
The Commission, on careful consideration of the evidence on mmd and the findings
in the magisterial enquiry, formed the view that the death of the prisoner occurred under
suspicious circumstances and that the police personnel on duty did not exercise the due
diligence expected of them in the performance of their dutles. The Commission, relying on
provisions contained in sections 18(1) and 18(3) of the Protectfon of Human Rights
Act, 1993, recommepded that a compensation of Re.1 lakh be paid to the dependants of the
deceased.
The NHRC is empowered d s 18 (3) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to
recommend to the concerned Govt. or authority the grant of 'immediate interim relief' to the
victim or to the members of his family. This provision has been generously operated and the
power conferred under it is widely exercised by the Commission in deserving cases. The
Commission has In this connection kept itsalf alve to the spirit of various United Nations
instruments. Article 9 of the International Convsnant on C i l and Political Rights makes it
explicit that everyone has the right to liberty and security of peraon and nobody shall be
subjected lo arbitrary erreU or detention. It furihar mandates that anyone who has been the
victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation. Article
I 4 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, 1985 makes it an obligation of the State to ensure that in its legal system, the
victim of an act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable rlght to fair and adequate
compensation, including the means for as full a rehabilitation aa possible. In the event of the
death of the victim as a result of an act of torture, his dependants shall be entitled to
compensation. Principle 35 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under
Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (19881, also prescribes for remedy of compensation,
in case of any damage incurred M u s e of acts of omission by public officials contrary to the
rights contained in the 6ody of Principles.