30, August 2026

Custodial violence & police accountability in India: a critical study of institutional failures and judicial trends

VOLUME-12; ISSUE-8; AUG-2026

Author(s): 1. Mr. Yash Choudhary, 2. Mrs. Reecha Parakh

Authors Affiliations:

Author & Student of L.L.M. 2nd year, Govt. State Level P.G. Law College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

2 Guide & Assistant Professor of Law, Govt. State Level P.G. Law College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202608013     |     Paper ID: IJIRMF202608013


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Custodial violence continues to be a serious issue in the Indian criminal justice system despite constitutional protections under Articles 20 and 21. Incidents of torture, abuse, and custodial deaths reflect weaknesses in enforcement, police accountability, and institutional oversight. This study examines the legal framework, judicial interventions, and causes of custodial violence, including political interference, weak safeguards, and police impunity. It analyses important laws, constitutional provisions, and landmark judgments such as D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal and Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa, which strengthened procedural safeguards and state accountability. The study concludes that although the judiciary has played an important role in protecting custodial rights, effective implementation of reforms and stronger accountability mechanisms are still urgently needed.

Custodial violence, police accountability, custodial deaths, judicial intervention, police impunity, institutional oversight, torture.

Mr. Yash Choudhary,  Mrs. Reecha Parakh (2026); Custodial violence & police accountability in India: a critical study of institutional failures and judicial trends, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-12, Issue-8, Available on –   https://www.ijirmf.com/

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