High Court seeks custodial death info

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday asked Maharashtra government to furnish details regarding cases of custodial deaths in which magistrates have not taken cognisance of reference sent to them for judicial inquiry.

Adivision bench of Justices A S Oka and AA Sayed said once the details are available, the court can issue directions to the judicial registrar to take up the matter with the concerned magistrates. The HC was hearing a bunch of petitions, including a PIL on the alleged increasing number of custodial death cases in the state.

The court was informed on Monday by the government that till September this year, 31 cases of custodial deaths have been recorded, out of which 28 cases have been referred to the magistrate concerned of those districts for conducting judicial inquiry.

The bench was informed that in certain cases the magistrates refused to take cognisance of the reference made to them.

“Give us details of these cases in which magistrates did not entertain despite reference to them. We will issue appropriate directions. In seven cases judicial inquiry has been completed and report has been submitted. We also have to see what has to be done after thereport is filed. Otherwise judicial inquiry would just be an empty formality,” Justice Oka said.