NHRC Tells HC: Police Must Change Way Of Probing Dowry Related Cases

New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today suggested before the Delhi High Court that police change its way of investigating dowry related cases to ensure that no “innocent” is lodged in jail.
Recommending that “police needs to review its routine in conducting investigations in dowry cases to ensure that it is not misused,” the NHRC submitted a report before a Division Bench of Justices R S Sodhi and B N Chaturvedi, pursuant to its earlier order to inspect the overcrowded Tihar jail.
Appearing for NHRC, counsel Meenakshi Arora submitted that several people, including small children and very old people, have been lodged in jail in dowry related cases, which is one of the reasons for overcrowding in the prison.
Suggesting continuous monitoring of the action taken by jail authorities, she informed the Bench that maximum prisoners were found to be implicated under the NDPS and Arms Act. Most of the prisoners were found to be from the category of below poverty line, the counsel said.
Taking suo motu cognisance over a media report about overcrowding in Tihar jail, the Bench earlier asked the jail authorities to release forthwith undertrials lodged in Tihar for petty offences.
The NHRC also stated in the report that inmates were not properly provided with basic amenities besides lack of proper medical facilities to the prisoners.
Recommending an effective complaint redressal system in the jail, the report stated there were frequent fights amongst inmates.
To the recommendations of NHRC, the Bench asked the NCT government to file its response by Wednesday. PTI

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