MADURAI: Taking suo motu cognizance of the deaths of a father-son duo -- P Jayaraj and J Benicks -- who were under judicial custody after being arrested by the Sathankulam police, Madras high court on Wednesday directed the Tuticorin superintendent of police (SP) to file a status report on the incident on June 26.
The court also directed to submit the judicial magistrate's (JM) inquest report, postmortem report along with videograph in a sealed cover before the registry of this court.
When the case was taken up for hearing on Wednesday, the court directed the director general police (DGP) and Tuticorin SP to appear through videoconferencing. Additional advocate general K Chellapandian informed the court that the DGP was in a videoconference with chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. So south zone IG K P Shanmuga Rajeswaran and Tuticorin SP Arun Balagopalan appeared before the court through videoconferencing.
IG Shanmuga Rajeswaran submitted that two sub-inspectors had been suspended, an inspector had been placed on waiting list and disciplinary actions had been initiated against two head constables attached to the Sathankulam police station.
SP Arun Balagopalan submitted that the situation was calm at present and people had faith in police action. He further submitted that Kovilpatti judicial magistrate (JM) was conducting an inquest in Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital.
Taking cognizance of the submissions, a division bench of Justice P N Prakash and Justice B Pugalendhi orally observed that since the street hawkers and daily wagers were facing difficulties during this Covid-19 pandemic, a humane approach should be adapted in treating the people during the lockdown.
The judges observed that in a democratic set up, people are sovereign and such kinds of incidents would create widespread discontent among the people. The judges orally asked the state government and DGP to come up with standard operating procedures to put an end to such kinds of custodial deaths in the state.
The judges directed the district administration officials to provide necessary infrastructure and support to the JM to conduct an inquest without any interference. The judges also reiterated that as per the direction of this court, postmortem should be performed by a team of three doctors and the same should be videographed.
The judges said since the spread of Covid-19 is rampant, social distancing norms should not be violated during the funeral.
The court also directed to submit the judicial magistrate's (JM) inquest report, postmortem report along with videograph in a sealed cover before the registry of this court.
When the case was taken up for hearing on Wednesday, the court directed the director general police (DGP) and Tuticorin SP to appear through videoconferencing. Additional advocate general K Chellapandian informed the court that the DGP was in a videoconference with chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. So south zone IG K P Shanmuga Rajeswaran and Tuticorin SP Arun Balagopalan appeared before the court through videoconferencing.
IG Shanmuga Rajeswaran submitted that two sub-inspectors had been suspended, an inspector had been placed on waiting list and disciplinary actions had been initiated against two head constables attached to the Sathankulam police station.
SP Arun Balagopalan submitted that the situation was calm at present and people had faith in police action. He further submitted that Kovilpatti judicial magistrate (JM) was conducting an inquest in Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital.
Taking cognizance of the submissions, a division bench of Justice P N Prakash and Justice B Pugalendhi orally observed that since the street hawkers and daily wagers were facing difficulties during this Covid-19 pandemic, a humane approach should be adapted in treating the people during the lockdown.
The judges observed that in a democratic set up, people are sovereign and such kinds of incidents would create widespread discontent among the people. The judges orally asked the state government and DGP to come up with standard operating procedures to put an end to such kinds of custodial deaths in the state.
The judges directed the district administration officials to provide necessary infrastructure and support to the JM to conduct an inquest without any interference. The judges also reiterated that as per the direction of this court, postmortem should be performed by a team of three doctors and the same should be videographed.
The judges said since the spread of Covid-19 is rampant, social distancing norms should not be violated during the funeral.
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