The Meghalaya High Court has taken a strong stance on custodial deaths, stating that these tragic incidents will only cease when the compensation for such violence is set at a level where the State feels a substantial financial burden. The court has proposed compensation amounts that are substantial enough to act as both redress for the victim's family and a deterrent for state officials involved.
A division bench, consisting of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice HS Thangkhiew, expressed their dismay over the number of custodial deaths and excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies. The court labeled custodial deaths as a "slur on a civilized State" and emphasized that there should ideally be no deaths in custody except due to natural causes.
The court has established compensation amounts based on the age of the victim:
- For victims below 30 years of age: ₹15 lakh
- For victims aged between 30 and 45: ₹12 lakh
- For victims over 45 years of age: ₹10 lakh
Additionally, the court set a strict deadline for compensation, requiring it to be paid within six months, or three months if the victim's family has already been identified.
The court's ruling was a response to a suo motu case initiated to address custodial deaths in Meghalaya. Since 2012, there have been 53 reported custodial deaths in the state, with 28 classified as unnatural deaths.
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