Retired judge to probe custodial torture of 21-yr-old auto driver

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered an inquiry by a retired high court judge Justice R S Ramanathan into the alleged custodial torture of a 21-year-old autorickshaw driver.

A petition was filed by the detenue’s father, Noor Basha, on behalf of his son Sheik Sahul Hameed who was in custody between August 28 and 31.

A division bench comprising Justice Rajiv Shakdher and N Sathish Kumar requested Justice Ramanathan to submit the report before November 7.

“The State and the officers shall accord all assistance to Justice Ramanathan,” the Bench ruled.  “The State will also provide Justice Ramanathan all documents and records, which may be necessary in that regard, for the purpose of conducting the inquiry.

The magistrate concerned shall also place before Justice Ramanathan, any records that he may wish to examine to take forward the inquiry.” The court said the State will reimburse all incidental and ancillary expenses incurred by the former judge for the purpose of inquiry on actual basis.
Also, the court said the State will provide conveyance and secretarial assistance to him, if he makes such a request.

The petitioner alleged that Hameed was tortured and ill-treated. Apart from being subjected to physical abuse, he was also deprived of food and water for days. The result of the abuse was a number of severe injuries, especially to his kidneys, the petitioner said. On September 11, 2017, the high court had directed the State to transfer Hameed from Stanley Medical College Hospital to Apollo Hospital upon seeing his injuries.

Further, four days later, the court directed the State to bear the expenses of Hameed’s treatment in a private hospital. According to a medical report submitted on October 6, 2017, the detenu suffered acute damage to his kidneys, besides having four fingers of each hand being amputated on account of spread of gangrene.