[Altaf custodial death] Allahabad High Court issues notice in PUCL plea for fast-track police courts

The Allahabad High Court today issued notice in a plea seeking the establishment of fast-track police courts in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the custodial death of 22-year-old Altaf at a Kasganj police station (PUCL v. State of Uttar Pradesh)..The Court directed the petitioner, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), to delete all cited examples of custodial violence from other states. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal said that doing so would create confusion for the Court, and that the State would not be able to reply on such examples..The observation was made after Senior Advocate SFA Naqvi, appearing for PUCL, referred to data pertaining to custodial violence in Uttar Pradesh and other states.The Court asked him to confine the examples to Uttar Pradesh, and to file an amended copy of the plea, to which a counter will be filed by the State. The matter will heard next on January 28, 2022. Advocates Shashwat Anand, Syed Ahmed Faizan and Rajesh Inamdar appeared for the PUCL along with Naqvi..Altaf was called in for questioning by the UP Police and later found dead at the Kotwali Police Station in Kasganj district on November 9. PUCL had subsequently filed a petition seeking the establishment of fast-track police courts to deal with such cases. On Altaf's case, the plea stated,"Death of Altaf and other such persons in suspicious circumstances in police custody is viewed by any person of ordinary prudence as an institutional killing."The plea suggested that the fast-track courts should adjudicate upon FIRs, complaints and petitions filed against police officers in cases of custodial torture, death, rape and other such offences. It also called for the enforcement of various guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court..With regard to Altaf's case, PUCL sought the following reliefs:1. To direct the DGP, U.P. (respondent no. 2), DM, Kasganj (respondent 1. no. 3), and SP, Kasganj (respondent no. 3), to ensure full police protection to the bereaved family of Altaf.2. To direct the Union and State Governments to install CCTV cameras in all Police Stations and other such police offices of CBI, NIA, etc., across the State of UP and otherwise, and duly equip the police officers with body-worn cameras and requisite technology for videography during investigations, and file a compliance report within a period of 45 days.3. To constitute a High-Powered Committee, headed by a siting or retired Judge(s) of the Allahabad Court, comprising all relevant stakeholders and a panel of experts, to work out and provide for the appropriate, recommendations, mechanisms, modalities and guidelines, to fill the gaping legal lacunae, as regards prosecution and punishment of police officers accused guilty of custodial torture/deaths/rapes..[Altaf custodial death] PUCL moves Allahabad High Court seeking establishment of fast-track police courts