End custodial brutality, begin criminal justice reform.

Why in the News?

The recent custodial death of Ajith Kumar, a 27-year-old temple guard in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, has reignited public concern over systemic police brutality and custodial violence in India. His autopsy revealed 44 wounds, cigarette burns, and signs of narcotic exposure, reflecting a deeper malaise within law enforcement practices. This death is part of a disturbing pattern, underscoring the urgent need for criminal justice reform.

Background

• Custodial deaths in India are not isolated incidents. From 2021 to 2025, Tamil Nadu alone has witnessed multiple such deaths:
• Vignesh (2022): Died in custody in Chennai within hours; his autopsy revealed multiple injuries.
• Raja (2024): A Dalit cook from Villupuram died in custody over a petty theft allegation.
• Unidentified autorickshaw driver (2023): Died under suspicious circumstances in Tiruchi.
• Ajith Kumar (2025): Brutally assaulted; his mother testified he repeatedly claimed innocence.
• Despite high spending on policing infrastructure, insufficient investment is made in officer training, welfare, and psychological care.

Feature

Normalisation of Force:

• Excessive use of violence has become systemic rather than exceptional.
• Enforcement is prioritised over empathy, fairness, and due process

Budgetary Imbalance:

• Funds are disproportionately directed toward hardware (vehicles, surveillance tools, lathis) rather than training, counselling, and mental health.
• Officers deal with trauma and high-pressure cases without institutional support.

Need for Psychological Support:

• Police are often the first responders in emotionally volatile cases.
• Without mental wellness programs, stress turns into burnout and brutality.

Training and Curriculum Gaps:

• The police training curriculum is outdated and irrelevant for contemporary policing needs.
• Courses lack focus on human rights, trauma-informed care, ethics, and community policing.

Accountability Mechanism:

• Cosmetic suspensions are insufficient.
• Legislative changes must ensure time-bound probes, mandatory video documentation of interrogations, and independent oversight.

Use of Technology for Transparency:

• CCTV in custody areas must be tamper-proof and audited in real time.
  Technology should be a tool for justice, not an idle observer.
• Reimagining Policing:
  Law enforcement must be reshaped as a service-oriented, human-centred institution.

Challenge

• Structural Inertia: Institutional resistance to reform remains a major hurdle.
• Political Interference: Policing is often compromised due to political pressures.
• Lack of Legal Safeguards: India lacks a dedicated anti-custodial torture law, despite repeated recommendations.
• Public Apathy: Media and public attention fade quickly unless high-profile deaths occur.
• Underreporting and Manipulation: Many custodial deaths are disguised as medical or accidental deaths.
• Resource Misallocation: Funds are misused or prioritised for visible infrastructure over reform-oriented measures.

Way Forward

Enact a Comprehensive Anti-Custodial Violence Law:

• Clear provisions for investigations, punishments, and independent oversight.
  Ensure civil society participation in police monitoring boards.

Reallocate Police Budgets:

• At least 5% of the police budget should go to mental health units, counselling, and sensitisation programs.

Revamp Police Training:

• Modernise curricula to include human rights jurisprudence, ethics, and non-violent investigation techniques.

Institutionalise Mental Wellness:

• Quarterly counselling, anonymous helplines, and stress-relief initiatives should become mandatory.

Strengthen Technology Oversight:

• CCTVs should be mandatory in all custody areas with audit trails and public accountability.

Independent Complaints Authorities:

• Set up Police Complaints Authorities (PCA) at the district and state levels with real powers.

Sensitisation of Law Enforcement:

• Officers should be trained in de-escalation, cultural sensitivity, caste-awareness, and trauma-informed interaction.

Change in Police Culture:

• Promote an institutional culture that upholds restraint, empathy, and service, rather than impunity.

Conclusion

The death of Ajith Kumar is not just a tragedy; it is a test of India’s moral compass and institutional commitment to justice. Reforms must begin with the realisation that brutality is not strength, and empathy is not weakness. If we fail to act now, we will continue to betray the constitutional promise of dignity, life, and liberty. Justice delayed is not only justice denied in the case of custodial deaths, but it is justice buried.

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Question: Discuss the systemic causes of custodial violence in India and suggest comprehensive reforms required in the policing and criminal justice system to prevent such human rights violations.

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTION