Supreme Court Issues Notice to Government Over Allegations of Police Misconduct

Supreme Court's Response to Allegations

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the central government in response to a petition filed by a female lawyer, seeking an explanation regarding her claims. The lawyer alleges that on the night of December 13, she was unlawfully detained for fourteen hours at the Noida Sector 126 police station simply for fulfilling her professional duties as a legal representative for her client.

In her petition, she further accused the police of sexual harassment, torture, and coercion during her detention, while also obstructing the CCTV cameras installed at the station. After hearing arguments from the petitioner’s counsel, Justices Vikram Nath and N.V. Anjaria agreed to investigate the matter, scheduling the next hearing for January 7.

Concerns Over Police Conduct

Senior advocate Vikas Singh represented the petitioner and highlighted a troubling trend where police unlawfully detain lawyers for providing legal advice or representation to their clients. He referenced a previous incident of torture in custody at a police station in Rajasthan, which prompted the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance regarding the proper functioning of CCTV cameras in police stations across the country.

Serious Allegations Prompt Court's Attention

Typically, the Supreme Court refrains from entertaining such petitions, often directing petitioners to approach the relevant High Court. However, in this instance, the bench made an exception due to the serious nature of the allegations. On December 3, around 10:00 PM, the petitioner-lawyer was contacted by her client, who had reportedly suffered a brutal physical assault by officials from a news channel and several co-accused. The client sustained severe injuries to the head and body, leading to significant blood loss, and was examined at a government hospital, which confirmed multiple injuries and issued a medical-legal certificate.