HC junks PIL on independent inquiry into ‘fake’ encounters
The Gauhati High Court has disposed of a petition seeking an independent inquiry into the alleged fake encounters in Assam. The petitioner, a Delhibased lawyer, had alleged that the Supreme Court's guidelines for investigating cases of death or injury in police action were not followed by the Assam cops while probing such incidents in the state since May 2021. The Pil was heard by a Division Bench of Justices Suman Shyam and Susmita Phukan Khaund, who stated "the basic allegation in the Pil is pertaining to the fake encounters' carried out by police. The state has not denied the incidents but has taken a plea stand that all incidents of police encounters or police action are being inquired into. The petitioner has also not disputed the fact that inquiries have been conducted into the cases of police action or encounters, but according to him, the inquiry conducted by the state was not as per law. By following the guidelines laid down in the case of Peoples' Union for Civil Liberties vs State of Maharashtra and others (2014), however, there is nothing on record to substantiate the said assertion." The hearing of the Pil was completed on January 19, and the judgement was reserved by the High Court. The Court said the question of constituting an inquiry or handing over
The Gauhati High Court has disposed of a petition seeking an independent inquiry into the alleged fake encounters in Assam. The petitioner, a Delhibased lawyer, had alleged that the Supreme Court's guidelines for investigating cases of death or injury in police action were not followed by the Assam cops while probing such incidents in the state since May 2021. The Pil was heard by a Division Bench of Justices Suman Shyam and Susmita Phukan Khaund, who stated "the basic allegation in the Pil is pertaining to the fake encounters' carried out by police. The state has not denied the incidents but has taken a plea stand that all incidents of police encounters or police action are being inquired into. The petitioner has also not disputed the fact that inquiries have been conducted into the cases of police action or encounters, but according to him, the inquiry conducted by the state was not as per law. By following the guidelines laid down in the case of Peoples' Union for Civil Liberties vs State of Maharashtra and others (2014), however, there is nothing on record to substantiate the said assertion." The hearing of the Pil was completed on January 19, and the judgement was reserved by the High Court. The Court said the question of constituting an inquiry or handing over
