Gujarat Human Rights Commission Directs Compensation and Police Action in Two Separate Cases
The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has taken decisive action in two distinct cases involving alleged police excesses and negligence, ordering compensation for victims and disciplinary measures against involved personnel. These interventions highlight ongoing concerns about police conduct in the state.
Botad Case: Death Following Police Interrogation
In the first instance, the commission initiated suo motu proceedings based on reports that a youth died after allegedly being beaten by police, with his family refusing to accept the body from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. The GSHRC sought detailed reports from the Botad district magistrate and superintendent of police to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The official reports revealed that an individual named Kalu Padarshi was brought to Botad town police station for interrogation and subsequently released to his guardian. Three days later, Padarshi developed paralysis-like symptoms and died during treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Following this tragic outcome, authorities registered a case including charges of murder and voluntarily causing hurt.
The commission concluded that the death resulted from police harassment. Consequently, it recommended that the legal heirs of the deceased receive Rs 2 lakh in compensation and directed appropriate action against all personnel involved in the incident.
Rajkot Case: Murder Initially Treated as Heart Attack
In a separate case from Rajkot, the commission intervened after police allegedly misclassified a murder as a heart attack. The GSHRC initiated suo motu proceedings and requested a factual report from the Rajkot city police commissioner to clarify the circumstances.
The report detailed that 17-year-old Harsil Chaudhary fell unconscious and was admitted to a government hospital in Rajkot, where he was declared dead the following day. Initially, Kuvadva police station registered the case as an accidental death. However, after the commission's intervention, a fresh police investigation led to the registration of more serious offences, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety.
Police subsequently arrested the accused, obtained remand, and initiated legal proceedings. Departmental disciplinary action was also taken against police personnel found negligent in their duties. The commission emphasized that its involvement ensured proper registration of the offence and appropriate legal and administrative actions.
Context: Custodial Deaths in Gujarat
A GSHRC report provided broader context, indicating that 93 custodial deaths were reported in Gujarat during 2024-25. Of these, 79 occurred in jail custody, while 14 took place in police custody.
Jail Custody Deaths: Ahmedabad city recorded the highest number with 24 deaths, followed by Rajkot with 11, and Vadodara city with 10.
Police Custody Deaths: Ahmedabad and Rajkot city each reported three deaths, Ahmedabad Rural and Surat city each had two, while Rajkot rural, Surat Rural, Junagadh, and Valsad each recorded one death.
These statistics underscore the importance of the commission's recent directives in addressing systemic issues and ensuring accountability within law enforcement agencies.
