Remedies for unnatural jail death

Why in news?

Recently, SC directed the Chief Justices of all HC to register petitions suo motu to identify the kin of prisoners who died unnatural deaths and order the states to provide them compensation.

What is the need for this Judgement?

• Normally, the National and States Human Rights Commissions decide and award compensations in cases of custodial torture, deaths.
• However, compliance by State governments is low as these commissions do not exercise any power of contempt.
• This judgment is significant as the high court will now directly award compensation and ensure compliance by the States.
• It also asked the Ministry of women and child development to formulate procedures for tabulating children who died unnatural deaths in custody or in child care institution by this year end.

What is the significance?

• Human rights in a welfare state are not dependent on the status of the person whether he is a criminal or a victim.
• There is no reason at all to exclude their kin from receiving compensation only because the victim is a criminal.
• It is also important to look into the unnatural deaths of children in child care institutions for providing the children of our country with a better future.

Source: The Hindu