20 Custodial Deaths in 2 Years in Rajasthan Raise Rights Groups’ Concerns

Quick summary

• Rajasthan reported 20 custodial deaths between August 2023 and August 2025, according to a government report presented during its monsoon Assembly session.
• Causes of death:

– 12 deaths linked to health issues.
– Six suicides.
– One death occurred due to falling into a well during an escape attempt.

• No police personnel were found guilty in any of these cases, as revealed in response to Congress MLA Rafiq Khan’s query in the Assembly.

• Civil rights group PUCL expressed strong concern, labeling the custodial deaths as human rights violations and criticizing negligence by authorities regarding constitutional safeguards.

– PUCL also highlighted lapses in supervision enabling suicides and failure to provide timely medical care for health-related incidents.

• PUCL demands:

– Transparent judicial inquiry into all cases.
– strict action against negligent officers.
– Compensation and rehabilitation for affected families.
– Installation of mandatory CCTV cameras with secure data storage at custody centers.

• The Supreme Court has recently taken suo motu cognizance on custodial deaths amidst concerns over compliance with its directives concerning CCTV monitoring in police stations.

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Indian Opinion analysis

The issue of custodial deaths raises significant ethical, legal, and administrative questions for India’s justice system, notably within Rajasthan where startling numbers have been reported over two years. While accountability mechanisms such as independent judicial inquiries demanded by civil groups like PUCL are essential steps forward, the absence of consequences against law enforcement indicates systemic challenges that go beyond individual negligence.

The demand for institutional reforms-such as strict implementation of Supreme Court mandates around surveillance through CCTV systems-represents practical measures that could deter abuses and provide transparency concerning treatment within custody facilities. Furthermore, timely healthcare access needs prioritization alongside stringent supervision protocols to mitigate preventable fatalities attributed either to medical negligence or alleged suicide under dubious circumstances.

From a broader perspective, recurring instances like these risk undermining public trust not only in law enforcement but also in judicial structures tasked with addressing such transgressions efficiently while safeguarding citizens’ rights under constitutional provisions.Instituting reforms now may bolster long-term confidence in governance hereafter.