Amandeep Kaur v. Union of India and Others

oooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo ooooAToCHANDIGARHo o Reservedoon:oMayo12,o2025o Pronouncedoon:oMayo20,o2025o o

(i)l CRM-M-23-2020o(O&M)oo AmandeepoKauro o oo o o o o o ...oPetitionero o o o o o o Versuso o o o UnionoofoIndiaoandootherso o o o o ooooooooo...Respondentso

(ii)l CWP-4430-2020o(O&M)oo AmarjeetoKauro o oo o o o o o ...oPetitionero o o o o o o Versuso o o o StateoofoPunjaboandootherso o o o o ooooooooo...Respondentso CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARPREEToSINGHoBRARo Present:oo Mr.oSurinderoGandhi,oAdvocateo o oooooo forotheopetitioneroo o o inoCRM-M-23-2020oandoCWP-4430-2020.o o o ooooooo Mr.oVrishankoSuri,oAdvocateo o ooooooo AmicusoCuriaeoinoCRM-M-23-2020.o o o ooooooo Mr.oRishabhoSingla,oAAG,oPunjab.o o o o oooooo Mr.oRavioKamaloGupta,oAdvocateoo o ooooooo fororespondentoNo.6-CBIoinoCRM-M-23-2020.o ***o HARPREEToSINGHoBRAR,oJ.oo CRM-M-19535-2025o o o TheopresentoapplicationohasobeenopreferredounderoSectiono482oofo theoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o(hereinaftero'Cr.P.C.')oseekingotooplaceo o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 2o o o theo synopsiso ono record,o aso wello aso too dispenseo witho theo affidavito ofo theo petitioner.oo o o Forotheoreasonsospecifiedoinotheoapplication,otheosameoisoallowed.o Theo synopsiso iso takeno ono recordo ando theo requiremento ofo affidavito ofo theo petitioneroisodispensedowith.oo CRM-M-23-2020oandoCWP-4430-2020o

1.o o Thiso commono judgmento shallo disposeo ofo botho theo above-mentionedopetitionsoasotheyoariseofromoidenticalofactualomatrix.oHowever,oforo theosakeoofobrevity,otheofactsoareotakenoformoCRM-M-23-2020.o

2.o oo TheopresentopetitionoisopreferredounderoSectiono482oofotheoCr.P.C.o seekingodirectionsofor:o i.l Cancellationo ofo FIRo No.114o datedo 20.12.2019o (Annexureo P-1)o registeredounderoSectionso307,o186,o353,o34oIPCoatoPoliceoStationo Mehna,oDistrictoMogaoagainstofatheroofotheopetitioneroo ii.l RegistrationoofoanoFIRounderoSectionso302,o307,o148,o149,o120-B,o 182oIPC,oSectiono3oofotheoScheduledoCasteoandoScheduledoTribeo (Preventiono ofoAtrocities)oAct,o 1989o (hereinaftero 'SC/SToAct')o ando theo relevanto provisionso ofo theo Armso Act,o 1959o againsto ManpreetoSingho@oRomioandootheropoliceoofficers,oasomentionedo inocomplaintodatedo21.12.2019o(AnnexureoP-2)o iii.l TransferoofoinvestigationotooCBIoo iv.l Protectionoofotheirolifeoandolibertyo o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 3o o o v.l GrantoofocompensationowithorespectotootheomurderoofoJobanpreeto Singhoandoinjured-GurchetoSingh.o

3.o o Briefly,otheofacts,oasoalleged,oareothatoono19.12.2019,oManpreeto Singho@oRomiocalledotheohusbandoofotheopetitioneronamelyoGurchetoSinghoando askedohimotoogootooChandigarhowithohim.oGurchetoSingholeftowithohisofriendo JobanpreetoSinghoinohisocaroandowhenotheyoreachedoMoga,oManpreetoSingho@o Romioalongowitho10-12ootheropersons,ochasedothemoandofiredoatothem.oBothoofo themosustainedogunshotoinjured,obutosomehowoGurchetoSinghomanagedotoodriveo themotootheohospital.oUponoarrival,oJobanpreetoSinghowasodeclaredobroughto dead.oo

4.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero intero aliao contendso thato theo GurchetoSingh,ohusbandoofotheopetitioner,ohasobeenotargetedodueotoohisocasteo identityoasoheobelongsotooaoScheduledoCaste.oMoreover,ojurisdictionalopoliceo officersoareoshieldingotheoaccused-oManpreetoSingho@oRomioandopressurizingo theopetitioneroandoherohusbandotoogiveoaostatementofavouringothem.oTheyoalsoo fraudulentlyogototheosignaturesoofoGurchetoSinghoonosomeopapers.oFurtherostill,o theopoliceohasopresentedotheooccurrenceoasoanoincidentoofoaccidentaloshootingo whereaso ito iso ao caseo ofo coldo bloodedo murdero ofo Jobanpreeto Singho ando ao dedicatedoattemptotoomurderotheohusbandoofotheopetitioner.oSinceotheopoliceo itselfoareocomplicitoinotheoact,otheopetitionerohasobeenounableotoogetoanoFIRo registeredoagainstoManpreetoSingho@oRomioandotheopoliceoofficersoinvolved.oo o5.o o LearnedoAmicusoCuriaeosubmitsothatotheoversionoputoforthobyotheo jurisdictionalopoliceoauthoritiesoisothatotheyoreceivedoooooaosecretoinformationo o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 4o o o thato drugso areo beingo transportedo byo Jobanpreeto Singh.o Theyo establishedo ao checkpostobutoGurchetoSingh,ohusbandoofotheopetitioner,odidonotostopoandotriedo too runo overo theo policeo officers.o Theo policeo officerso shoto ato theo caro ino selfo defence,oresultingoinodeathoofoJobanpreetoSingh.oOno27.12.2019,oGurchetoSingho wasoarrested.oTheopoliceoalsooclaimedothatotheodeceasedoandoGurchetoSingho wereohabitualooffenders,owitho04ocasesopendingoagainstotheolatter,oandothato48o gramsoofoheroin,o3ocartridgesoofo315oboreogunowereorecoveredofromotheirocar.oo

6.o o Heofurtherosubmitsothatoaodifferentoversionohasobeenoputoforthoino theostatementorecordedobyoGurchetoSinghoono21.12.2019,owhereinoheostatedothato ManpreetoSingho@oRomioalongowitho10-12opersonsoshotoatohimoandoJobanpreeto Singh.oHeohasoalsoomentionedothatotheocauseoofotheodisputeowasoaoprioroquarrelo betweenothem,orootedoinocasteobasedodiscrimination.oInospiteoofocategoricalo allegationsohavingobeenoleviedoagainstoManpreetoSingho@oRomi,onooFIRohaso beenoregisteredoagainstohim.oRather,oFIRoNo.o 114o(supra)owasofiledobyotheo policeoagainstotheohusbandoofotheopetitionerotoosaveotheiroownoskinoandoalsoo shieldoManpreetoSingho@oRomi.oFurther,otheofinaloreportounderoSectiono173o Cr.P.C.o haso onlyo beeno presentedo againsto Gurcheto Singho ono 21.12.2020o foro offencesounderoSectiono21oofotheoNDPSoActoandoSectiono25oofotheoArmsoAct,o 1959oandochargesowereoalsooframedovideoorderodatedo05.12.2022.oHowever,o ManpreetoSingho@oRomiohasoessentiallyodisappearedoandonooeffortsohaveobeeno madeotootraceohim.oAsofaroasotheoissueooforegistrationoofoanoFIRoagainstotheo proposedoaccusedoisoconcerned,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoSakirioVasuovs.o StateoofoU.P.o2008(1)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o392ohasooheldothatoinsteadoofofilingoao petitionounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.ofororegistrationoofoFIR,otheoaggrievedoshouldo o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 5o o o firstoexhaustotheoremedyounderoSectiono154(3)oando156(3)oofotheoCr.P.C.oandoifo aopetitionounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oforotheosameoisofiled,otheomatteromustobeo relegated.oTheosameowasoalsooreiteratedoinoM.oSubramaniamoandoAnr.ovs.oS.o Janakio ando anothero 2020o (2)o R.C.R.o (Criminal)o 788.o Ono thato note,o theo petitionerohadomovedoanoapplicationounderoSectiono156(3)oCr.P.C,ohoweverotheo sameowasodismissedobyotheolearnedoJudicialoMagistrateoIstoClass,oMogaovideo orderodatedo05.03.2024.ooSinceotheosameoremainsounchallenged,oitowouldobeo deemedotoohaveoattainedofinality.ooMoreover,oaoCo-ordinateobenchoofothisoCourto inoSanjayoGambhirovs.oStateoofoPunjaboandoOtherso2023(4)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o 816,o haso opinedo thato eveno ifo noo FIRo iso registered,o ino derogationo ofo theo directionsolaidodownoinotheoLalitaoKumariovs.oGovt.oofoU.P.oandootherso2013o

(4)o R.C.R.o (Criminal)o 979,o ao petitiono Sectiono 482o Cr.P.C.o iso noto theo onlyo remedyo available.o Ruleo 5o ofo theo SC/STo Acto alsoo provideso foro ao similaro provisionofororedressaloofogrievancesoasoisoprovidedoinotheoCr.P.C.o

7.o o Further,otheocaseostemmingofromoFIRo(supra)oisoatotheostageoofo prosecutiono witness.o Aso such,o ito wouldo beo recommendedo thato theo trialo iso allowedotooreachoitsonaturaloconclusionoafterotheoevidenceoadducedobyobotho sidesoisoanalysedobyotheoconcernedotrialoCourtoasoitoinvolvesodisputedoquestionso ofofact.oRelianceoinothisoregardocanobeoplacedoonoParveenoKumaroandoanothero vs.oStateoofoPunjaboandoanothero2024(2)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o724.oInosoofaroaso theo prayero ofo theo petitionero foro transfero ofo investigationo too theo CBIo iso concerned,o ino theo caseo ofo Mithilesho Kumaro Singho vs.o Stateo ofo Rajasthano 2015(1)R.C.R.(Criminal)o 437,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto allowedo theo transferoofoinvestigationobutoalsooopinedothatowhileoconsideringotheotransferoofo o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 6o o o investigation,otheoHon'bleoCourtsohaveotooremainosensitiveotootheoprincipleothato theotransferoisonotomadeosolelyobecauseoaopartyodesiresoit.oItoisoonlyowhenojusticeo becomeso ao victimo becauseo ofo shabbyo oro partisano investigationo oro wheno discoveryo ofo trutho iso noto possibleo thato investigationo cano beo transferred.o Ao CoordinateobenchoofothisoHon'bleoCourtoinoSatishoKumaroSainioandoanothero vs.oStateoofoPunjaboandootherso2025(1)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o436oandoTalimaovs.o StateoofoHaryanaoandoOrs.o2024(3)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o128oopinedothatomerelyo becauseothereoareoallegationsoagainstotheopoliceoofficialsodoesonotomeanothato investigationocanobeotransferredotootheoCBI.oInvestigationocanobeotransferredo whereoitobecomesoimperativeotooaddocredibilityoandoinstilloconfidenceoinotheo investigation.oItowasofurtheroheldothatoordinarily,oaopersonoaggrievedoofonon-registrationoofoFIRoisotooapproachotheoIllaqaoMagistrateofirst.oAopetitionoundero Sectiono482oCr.P.C.ofororegistrationoofoFIRooughtotoobeoexaminedoinoveryorareo cases.oAoCo-ordinateobenchoofothisoCourtoinoHarinderpaloSinghoBassiovs.oStateo ofo Punjabo ando otherso ino CRM-M-60024o ofo 2022o decidedo ono 04.01.2024,o speakingo througho Justiceo Deepako Gupta,o laido downo theo parameterso too beo consideredowhileotransferringoaocaseotooCBI,owhichoareoasofollows:o "16.oKeepingoinomindotheoprecedentsoasolaidodownobyoHon'bleoApexo Court,ofollowingoprinciplesoemerge:ooo lTheopowerotootransferoanoinvestigationoisoextraordinaryoandomusto beusedo "sparingly",o cautiouslyo ando onlyo "ino exceptionalo circumstances".ooo lNoooneocanoinsistothatoanooffenceobeoinvestigatedobyoaoparticularo agency.o Ano aggrievedo persono cano onlyo claimo thato theo allegedo offenceobeoinvestigatedoproperly,obutoheohasonoorightotooclaimothatoito beoinvestigatedobyoanyoparticularoagencyoofohisochoice.oo loTransferoofoinvestigationoisonototoobeodirectedobyotheoCourtojusto forotheoaskingonorotheosameoisotransferredoonlyotoosatisfyotheoegoooro vindicateotheoprestigeoofoaopartyointerestedoinosuchoinvestigation,o o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 7o o o butotheodecisionowhetherotransferoshouldooroshouldonotobeoordered,o restso ono theo Court'so satisfactiono dependingo upono factso ando circumstancesoofoaogivenocase.oo loTheopowerotooorderofresh,odeonovooorore-investigationoisovestedo withotheoConstitutionaloCourts;oandotheocommencementoofoaotrialo ando examinationo ofo someo witnesseso cannoto beo ano absoluteo impedimentoforoexercisingotheosaidoconstitutionalopower,owhichoiso meantotooensureofairoandojustoinvestigation.ooo lThoughosatisfactionoofowantoofoproper,ofair,oimpartialoandoeffectiveo investigationoerodingoitsocredenceoandoreliabilityoisotheopreconditiono foro ao directiono foro furthero investigationo oro reinvestigation,o submissionoofotheochargeosheetoipsoofactooorotheopendencyoofotheo trialocan,obyonoomeans,obeoaoprohibitiveoimpediment.o lFollowingo exceptionalo situationso mayo beo consideredo whileo orderingotransferoofoinvestigation:oo ?l whereoitobecomesonecessaryotooprovideocredibilityoandoinstilo confidenceoinotheopublicomind,oinotheoinvestigations,oorowhereo theo incidento mayo haveo nationalo ando internationalo ramifications,ooroo ?l whereosuchoanoorderomayobeonecessaryoforodoingocompleteo justiceoandoenforcingotheofundamentalorights,ooro ?l wheno theo Courto feelso thato theo investigationo byo theo policeo authoritiesoisonotoinoaoproperodirection,ooroo ?l owhenohighopoliceoofficialsoareoinvolvedoinotheoallegedocrime,o oro ?l owhereoinvestigationobyotheoStateopoliceolacksocredibilityoando ito iso necessaryo foro havingo "ao fair,o honesto ando completeo investigation",o ando particularly,o wheno ito iso imperativeo too retainopublicoconfidenceoinotheoimpartialoworkingoofotheoStateo agencies.o…"oo ?l wheno thereo iso ao reasonableo apprehensiono abouto justiceo becomingo ao victimo becauseo ofo shabbyo oro partisano investigation."o o o o RelianceocanoalsoobeoplacedoonotheojudgmentsorenderedoinoStateoofo WestoBengaloandoothersovs.oTheoCommitteeoForoProtectionoofoDemocratico Rightso Westo Bengalo ando otherso (2010)o 3o SCCo 571,o Abhisheko Chetalo vs.o CentraloBureauoofoInvestigationoandootherso2019(2)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o177,oo Sudiptao Lenkao vs.o Stateo ofo Odishao ando anothero (2014)o 11o SCCo 527o ando o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 8o o o UnionoTerritoryoofoChandigarhovs.oMohitoDhawanoinoSLPo(criminal)oNo.o 3405oofo2023odecidedoono06.08.2024.o

8.o o Lastly,o sinceo theo husbando ofo theo petitionero haso sustainedo significantoinjuriesodueotooexcessesocommittedobyotheoStateolawoenforcemento agency,otheocaseomayobeoconsideredoforoawardoofocompensation,oinoexerciseoofo theoinherentopowersoofothisoCourt.oRelianceoinothisoregardoisoplacedoonoNilabatio Beherao aliaso Lalitao Beherao vs.o Stateo ofo Orissao ando otherso 1994o (1)(o R.C.R.(Criminal)o18,oRuduloShahovs.oStateoofoBiharoandoanothero(1983)o4o SCCo141,oM.oBaluovs.oTheoADGPoCrimeoBranchoCIDoChennaio2014(41)o R.C.R.o (Criminal)o 874,o Saheli,o Ao Women'so Resourceso Centreo vs.o Theo CommissioneroofoPoliceo1990(1)oR.C.R.(criminal)o299,oPeople'soUnionoforo DemocraticoRightsovs.oStateoofoBiharoandootherso1987oAIRoSCo355,oSavitao andoothersovs.oTheoStateoofoHaryanaoandoothersoCWP-17180-2018odecidedo ono 11.10.2022o ando Shindero Kauro vs.o Stateo ofo Punjabo ando otherso 2023o NCPHHCo158366.o

9.o o LearnedoStateocounselosubmitsothato48ogramsoofoheroinoandothreeo cartridgeso ofo 315o boreo guno wereo recoveredo fromo theo caro beingo driveno byo Gurcheto Singh.oTheo saido vehicleo belongedo too hiso father-in-law.o Further,o 06o shotso wereo firedo byo ConstableoAmarjito Ramo ino self-defenceo wheno Gurcheto Singhotriedotoorunotheopoliceopartyooverowithohisovehicle.oHowever,oheocouldo notocontrovertotheofactothatotheosaidoassaultoresultedoinotheodeathoofoJobanpreeto SinghoandoleftoGurchetoSinghoinjured.oHeofurtherosubmitsothatotheopoliceohasonoo previousoacquaintanceowithotheovictimsoandoasosuch,oitoisoevidentothatotheoshotso wereofiredoinoself-defenceoindeedoandonototoosatisfyoanyopersonalovendetta.o o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 9o o o Additionally,onooapplicationohasobeenofiledoagainstoManpreetoSingho@oRomioino anyopoliceostationoorobeforeotheoNationaloCommissionoforoScheduledoCastes.o Lastly,oaototaloofo04oFIRsoareopendingoagainstoGurchetoSinghoincludingooneoforo murder,ooneounderoNDPSoActoandotheoPunjaboExciseoAct,1914oeach.oo

10.o o Havingoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoafteroperusingo theorecordoofotheocase,oitotranspiresothatoJobanpreetoSingho(sonoofotheopetitionero inoCWP-4430-2020)oandoGurchetoSingho(husbandoofotheopetitioneroinoCRM-M-23-2020)owereotravellingotogetherowhenoshotoatobyoManpreetoSingho@oRomio ando hiso companions.o Whileo Gurcheto Singho sustainedo injuries,o aso pero theo certificateofromoHabansoNursingoHome,oKot-Ise-Khan,oMogao(AnnexureoP-1o inoCWP-4430-20250),oJobanpreetoSinghowasobroughtodeadoono19.12.2019.oAo statementoofoGurchetoSinghowasoalsoorecordedowhenoheowasoadmittedoinoApolloo Hospital,oLudhianaowhereinoheocategoricallyostatedothatotheyowereoshotoatobyo Manpreeto Singho @o Romio alongo witho 10-12o accomplices.o Curiously,o theo jurisdictionalopoliceohasopresentedo ao completelyo differento versiono ofo eventso statingothatotheyohadoprioroinformationoofotheovictimsosmugglingodrugs.oItoiso theiro caseo thato Gurcheto Singho ando Jobanpreeto Singh,o triedo too runo overo theo officialso presento ato theo checkpointo witho theiro car.o Admittedly,o Constableo AmarjitoRamofiredo06oshotsoatothemoinoself-defence.oInterestingly,otheopoliceo partyohasostatedothatoitowasoanoinstanceoofomisfiring.oHowever,otheonameoofo ManpreetoSingho@oRomiofindsonoomentionoanywhere.o

11.o o Whileo ito mayo beo trueo thato theo deceasedo ando theo injuredo wereo arraignedoasoanoaccusedoinootherocases,ohowever,otheosameodoesonotogiveoaorighto tootheopoliceoofficialsotooindulgeoinoexcessesotooconductohisoarrest.oTheoallegedo o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 10o o o secretoinformationopertainedotoosmugglingocontrabandodrugs,oasosuchotheopoliceo wasoboundotoofollowotheodrilloofoSectiono46oCr.P.C,owhichoisoreproducedobelow:o Sectiono46-Arrestohowomade.oo

(1)oInomakingoanoarrestotheopoliceoofficeroorootheropersonomakingo theosameoshalloactuallyotouchooroconfineotheobodyoofotheopersonotoo beoarrested,ounlessothereobeoaosubmissionotootheocustodyobyowordo oroaction:o Providedothatowhereoaowomanoisotoobeoarrested,ounlessotheo circumstancesoindicateotootheocontrary,oherosubmissionotoocustodyo onoanooralointimationoofoarrestoshallobeopresumedoand,ounlessotheo circumstancesootherwiseorequireoorounlessotheopoliceoofficeroisoao female,otheopoliceoofficeroshallonototouchotheopersonoofotheowomano foromakingoheroarrest.o

(2)oIfosuchopersonoforciblyoresistsotheoendeavourotooarrestohim,ooro attemptsotooevadeotheoarrest,osuchopoliceoofficeroorootheropersono mayouseoallomeansonecessaryotooeffectotheoarrest.o

(3)oNothingoinothisosectionogivesoaorightotoocauseotheodeathoofoao personowhooisonotoaccusedoofoanooffenceopunishableowithodeatho orowithoimprisonmentoforolife.o

(4)o Saveo ino exceptionalo circumstances,o noo womano shallo beo arrestedo aftero sunseto ando beforeo sunrise,o ando whereo sucho exceptionalocircumstancesoexist,otheowomanopoliceoofficeroshall,o byomakingoaowrittenoreport,oobtainotheoprioropermissionoofotheo Judicialo Magistrateo ofo theo firsto classo withino whoseo localo jurisdictionotheooffenceoisocommittedoorotheoarrestoisotoobeomade.o (emphasisoadded)o o

12.o o Sinceoatothisopoint,otheomatteropertainedotootheoNDPSoActoandotheo maximumosentenceoisoneitherolifeoimprisonment,onorodeath.oTherefore,othereoiso noojustificationoforotheopoliceoengagingoinoaoshootout.ooMoreover,otheopoliceo officialsoformoaopartoofoaoprofessionaloandotrainedoforce.oAsosuch,oitocanobeo reasonablyo assumedo thato theyo possesso theo abilityo too arresto withouto causingo deatho ino theo process.oAllowingo thiso acto too goo uncheckedo wouldo effectivelyo meanovalidatingoaodeathosentence,opassedonotoinolineowithotheodueoprocessoofo law,obutobyotheolawoenforcementoagencyodonningotheoroleoofotheojudge,ojuryoando executioner.o Ao twoo Judgeo bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Extrao o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 11o o o JudicialoExecutionoVictimoFamiliesoAssociationo(EEVFAM)oandoothersovs.o Uniono ofo Indiao ando Otherso 2016oAIRo SCo 3400,o speakingo througho Justiceo MadanoB.oLokur,omadeotheofollowingoobservations:o o"120.o InoRohtasho Kumaro v.o Stateo ofo Haryana,o 2013(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o321o:o2013(2)oRecentoApexoJudgmentso(R.A.J.)o299o:o

(2013)o 14o SCCo 290othisoCourtocautionedo againsto theouseooforetaliatoryoforceoeveno againsto ao dreadedo criminal.o Ito wasoheld:o "Ito alsoo appearso thato heo [theo appellant]o waso declaredo absconder.o Buto merelyo becauseo ao persono iso ao dreadedo criminalooroaoproclaimedooffender,oheocannotobeokilledoino coldoblood.oTheopoliceomustomakeoanoeffortotooarrestosucho accused.oInoaogivenocaseoifoaodreadedocriminalolaunchesoao murderousoattackoonotheopoliceotoopreventothemofromodoingo theiro duty,o theo policeo mayo haveo too retaliateo and,o ino thato retaliation,osuchoaocriminalomayogetokilled.oThatocouldobeoao caseoofogenuineoencounter.oButoinotheofactsoofothisocase,oweo areounableotoodrawosuchoaoconclusion."o o

121.oFinally,oreferenceomayobeomadeotooDarshanoSinghov.oStateoofo Punjab,o 2010(1)o RCRo (Criminal)o 751o :o (2010)o 2o SCCo 333owhereinothisoCourtoheld:o "Whenothereoisorealoapprehensionothatotheoaggressoromighto causeo deatho oro grievouso hurt,o ino thato evento theorightoofoprivateodefenceoofo theo defendero couldo eveno extendo too causingo ofo death.o Ao mereo reasonableo apprehensionoisoenoughotooputotheorightoofoselfo-defenceointoo operation,o buto ito iso alsoo ao settledo positiono ofo lawo thato aorightoofoselfo-defenceoiso onlyo aorightotoo defendo oneselfo andonototooretaliate.oItoisonotoaorightotootakeorevenge."o

122.oFromotheoabove,oitoisoabundantlyoclearothatotheorightoofoself-defenceooroprivateodefenceofallsoinooneobasketoandouseoofoexcessi veoforceoororetaliatoryoforceofallsoinoanotherobasketo.o Therefore,o whileo ao victimo ofo aggressiono haso aorightoofoprivateodefenceooroselfo-defenceo(recognisedo byo Sectionso96otoo106oofo theo I.P.C.)o ifo thato victimo exceedso theorightoofoprivateodefenceooroselfo-defenceobyo usingoexcessiveoforceoororetaliatoryomeasures,o heo theno becomeso anoaggressoroandocommitsoaopunishableooffence.oUnfortunatelyo occasionally,ouseoofoexcessiveoforceooro retaliationo leadso too theo deatho ofo theo originalo aggressor.o Wheno theo Stateo useso suchoexcessiveoororetaliatoryoforceoleadingotoodeath,oitoisoreferredo tooasoanoextra-judicialokillingooroanoextra-judicialoexecutionooro aso thisoCourtoputo ito inoPeople'so Uniono foro Civilo Libertieso v.o o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 12o o o Uniono ofoIndiaoandoanothero,o 1997(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o 161o :o

(1997)o 3o SCCo 433oito iso calledo "administrativeo liquidation".o Societyoandotheocourtsoobviouslyocannotoandodoonotoacceptosucho aodeathocausedobyotheoStateosinceoitoisodestructiveoofotheoruleoofo lawoandoplainlyounconstitutional."o(emphasisoadded)o o

13.o o Theo Constitutiono ofo India,o byo virtueo ofo Articleo 21,o grantso ao fundamentalorightotoolife,owhichowouldoundoubtedlyoincludeotheorightotooliveoao dignified,o safeo ando secureolife.o Ino theo absenceo thereof,o allo othero rightso ando privilegeso loseo meaning.o Ino thato vein,o ao twoo Judgeo bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinoPublicoUnionoforoCiviloLibertiesovs.oStateoofoMaharashtrao

(2014)o10oSCCo635,ospeakingothroughoJusticeoR.M.oLodha,oissuedodetailedo guidelinesotoobeofollowedoinotheomattersoofoinvestigatingotheocasesoofodeatho causedobyotheopolice,oforothorough,oeffectiveoandoindependentoinvestigation:o "31.oInolightoofotheoaboveodiscussionoandohavingoregardotootheo directionsoissuedobyotheoBombayoHighoCourt,oguidelinesoissuedobyo NHRC,osuggestionsoofotheoappellanto-oPUCL,oamicusocuriaeoando theoaffidavitsofiledobyotheoUnionoofoIndia,oStateoGovernmentsoando theo Uniono Territories,oweo thinko ito appropriateotoo issueo theo followingo requirementso too beo followedo ino theo matterso ofo investigatingo policeo encounterso ino theo caseso ofo deatho aso theo standardo procedureo foro thorough,o effectiveo ando independento investigationo:o o

(1)oWheneverotheopoliceoisoinoreceiptoofoanyointelligenceoorotip-offo regardingo criminalo movementso oro activitieso pertainingo too theo commissionoofograveocriminalooffence,oitoshallobeoreducedointoo writingo ino someo formo (preferablyo intoo caseo diary)o oro ino someo electronico form.o Sucho recordingo needo noto revealo detailso ofo theo suspecto oro theo locationo too whicho theo partyo iso headed.o Ifo sucho intelligenceoorotip-offoisoreceivedobyoaohigheroauthority,otheosameo mayo beo notedo ino someo formo withouto revealingo detailso ofo theo suspectoorotheolocation.o o

(2)oIfopursuantotootheotip-offoororeceiptoofoanyointelligence,oaso above,oencounterotakesoplaceoandofirearmoisousedobyotheopoliceo partyoandoasoaoresultoofothat,odeathooccurs,oanoFIRotoothatoeffecto shallobeoregisteredoandotheosameoshallobeoforwardedotootheocourto undero Sectiono 157o ofo theo Codeo withouto anyo delay.o Whileo o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 13o o o forwardingo theo reporto undero Sectiono 157o ofo theo Code,o theo procedureo prescribedo undero Sectiono 158o ofo theo Codeo shallo beo followed.o o

(3)o Ano independento investigationo intoo theo incident/encountero shallobeoconductedobyotheoCIDooropoliceoteamoofoanotheropoliceo stationounderotheosupervisionoofoaosenioroofficero(atoleastoaolevelo aboveotheoheadoofotheopoliceopartyoengagedoinotheoencounter).oTheo teamoconductingoinquiry/investigationoshall,oatoaominimum,oseeko:o

(a)oTooidentifyotheovictim;ocolourophotographsoofotheovictimo shouldobeotaken;o

(b)oToorecoveroandopreserveoevidentiaryomaterial,oincludingo blood-stainedoearth,ohair,ofibersoandothreads,oetc.,orelatedotoo theodeath;o

(c)o Too identifyo sceneo witnesseso witho completeo names,o addresseso ando telephoneo numberso ando obtaino theiro statementso (includingo theo statementso ofo policeo personnelo involved)oconcerningotheodeath;o

(d)o Too determineo theo cause,o manner,o locationo (includingo preparationo ofo rougho sketcho ofo topographyo ofo theo sceneo and,oifopossible,ophoto/videooofotheosceneoandoanyophysicalo evidence)o ando timeo ofo deatho aso wello aso anyo patterno oro practiceothatomayohaveobroughtoaboutotheodeath;o

(e)oItomustobeoensuredothatointactofingerprintsoofodeceasedo areo sento foro chemicalo analysis.o Anyo othero fingerprintso shouldobeolocated,odeveloped,oliftedoandosentoforochemicalo analysis;o

(f)oPost-mortemomustobeoconductedobyotwoodoctorsoinotheo DistrictoHospital,ooneoofothem,oasofaroasopossible,oshouldobeo Incharge/oHeadoofotheoDistrictoHospital.oPost-mortemoshallo beovideographedoandopreserved;o

(g)o Anyo evidenceo ofo weapons,o sucho aso guns,o projectiles,o bulletsoandocartridgeocases,oshouldobeotakenoandopreserved.o Whereveroapplicable,otestsoforogunshotoresidueoandotraceo metalodetectionoshouldobeoperformed.o

(h)oTheocauseoofodeathoshouldobeofoundoout,owhetheroitowaso naturalodeath,oaccidentalodeath,osuicideoorohomicide.o o

(4)oAoMagisterialoinquiryounderoSectiono176oofotheoCodeomusto invariablyobeoheldoinoallocasesoofodeathowhichooccuroinotheocourseo ofo policeo firingo ando ao reporto thereofo musto beo sento too Judicialo MagistrateohavingojurisdictionounderoSectiono190oofotheoCode.o o

(5)oTheoinvolvementoofoNHRCoiso notonecessaryounlessothereoiso seriouso doubto abouto independento ando impartialo investigation.o However,otheoinformationoofotheoincidentowithoutoanyodelayomusto o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 14o o o beosentotooNHRCoorotheoStateoHumanoRightsoCommission,oasotheo caseomayobe.o o

(6)oTheoinjuredocriminal/victimoshouldobeoprovidedomedicaloaido ando his/hero statemento recordedo byo theo Magistrateo oro Medicalo Officerowithocertificateoofofitness.o o

(7)oItoshouldobeoensuredothatothereoisonoodelayoinosendingoFIR,o diaryoentries,opanchnamas,osketch,oetc.,otootheoconcernedoCourt.o o

(8)oAfterofulloinvestigationointootheoincident,otheoreportoshouldobeo sentotootheocompetentocourtounderoSectiono173oofotheoCode.oTheo trial,opursuantotootheocharge-sheetosubmittedobyotheoInvestigatingo Officer,omustobeoconcludedoexpeditiously.o o

(9)o Ino theo evento ofo death,o theo nexto ofo kino ofo theo allegedo criminal/victimomustobeoinformedoatotheoearliest.o o

(10)o Sixo monthlyo statementso ofo allo caseso whereo deathso haveo occurredoinopoliceofiringomustobeosentotooNHRCobyoDGPs.oItomusto beoensuredothatotheosixomonthlyostatementsoreachotooNHRCobyo 15thodayoofoJanuaryoandoJuly,orespectively.oTheostatementsomayobeo sentoinotheofollowingoformatoalongowithopostomortem,oinquestoand,o whereveroavailable,otheoinquiryoreports:o

(i)oDateoandoplaceoofooccurrence.o

(ii)oPoliceoStation,oDistrict.o

(iii)oCircumstancesoleadingotoodeaths:o

(a)oSelfodefenceoinoencounter.o

(b)oInotheocourseoofodispersaloofounlawfuloassembly.o

(c)oInotheocourseoofoaffectingoarrest.o

(iv)oBriefofactsoofotheoincident.o

(v)oCriminaloCaseoNo.o

(vi)oInvestigatingoAgency.o

(vii)oFindingsoofotheoMagisterialoInquiry/InquiryobyoSenioro Officers:o

(a)odisclosing,oinoparticular,onamesoandodesignationo ofopoliceoofficials,oifofoundoresponsibleoforotheodeath;o ando

(b)o whethero useo ofo forceo waso justifiedo ando actiono takenowasolawful.o o

(11)oIfoonotheoconclusionoofoinvestigationotheomaterials/evidenceo havingocomeoonorecordoshowothatodeathohadooccurredobyouseoofo firearmoamountingotoooffenceounderotheoIPC,odisciplinaryoactiono againstosuchoofficeromustobeopromptlyoinitiatedoandoheobeoplacedo underosuspension.o o o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 15o o o

(12)oAsoregardsocompensationotoobeograntedotootheodependantsoofo theovictimowhoosufferedodeathoinoaopoliceoencounter,otheoschemeo providedounderoSectiono357-AoofotheoCodeomustobeoapplied.o o

(13)o Theo policeo officer(s)o concernedo musto surrendero his/hero weaponsoforoforensicoandoballisticoanalysis,oincludingoanyoothero material,o aso requiredo byo theo investigatingo team,o subjecto too theo rightsounderoArticleo20oofotheoConstitution.o o

(14)oAnointimationoaboutotheoincidentomustoalsoobeosentotootheo policeoofficer'sofamilyoandoshouldotheofamilyoneedoservicesoofoao lawyer/counselling,osameomustobeooffered.o o

(15)o Noo out-of-turno promotiono oro instanto gallantryo rewardso shallo beo bestowedo ono theo concernedo officerso soono aftero theo occurrence.oItomustobeoensuredoatoallocostsothatosuchorewardsoareo given/recommendedo onlyo wheno theo gallantryo ofo theo concernedo officersoisoestablishedobeyondodoubt.o o

(16)oIfotheofamilyoofotheovictimofindsothatotheoaboveoprocedureo hasonotobeenofollowedoorothereoexistsoaopatternoofoabuseoorolacko ofo independento investigationo oro impartialityo byo anyo ofo theo functionariesoasoaboveomentioned,oitomayomakeoaocomplaintotoo theoSessionsoJudgeohavingoterritorialojurisdictionooverotheoplaceo ofo incident.o Upono sucho complainto beingo made,o theo concernedo SessionsoJudgeoshallolookointootheomeritsoofotheocomplaintoando addressotheogrievancesoraisedotherein.o o

32.o Theo aboveo guidelineso willo alsoo beo applicableo too grievouso injuryocasesoinopoliceoencounter,oasofaroasopossible."o(emphasiso added)o o

14.o o Further,o ao twoo Judgeo bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino PrakashoKadamovs.oRamprasadoVishwanathoGupta,o(2011)o6oSCCo189ohaso categoricallyoheldothatopoliceoofficersocannotoandoshouldonotobeoexcusedoinotheo mattersopertainingotooextra-judicialokillings,oespeciallyosinceotheyoformoaoparto ofotheolawoenforcementomechanism.oInofact,oitowasofurtheroclarifiedothatoanyo ordersobyoaosuperiorotooengageoinotheosameomustobeorefused.oTheofollowingowaso opined:o o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 16o o o "25.oWeoareoofotheoviewothatoinocasesowhereoaofakeoencounteroiso provedoagainsto policemeno ino aotrial,otheyo musto beogiveno deatho sentence,otreatingoitoasotheorarestooforareocases.oFakeo'encounters'o areonothingobutocoldoblooded,obrutalomurderobyopersonsowhooareo supposedo too upholdo theo law.oIno ouro opiniono ifocrimeso areo committedo byo ordinaryo people,o ordinaryo punishmento shouldo beo given,obutoifotheooffenceoisocommittedobyopolicemenomuchoharshero punishmento shouldo beo giveno too themo becauseo theyo doo ano acto totallyocontraryotootheiroduties.o o

26.o Weo warno policemeno thato theyo willo noto beo excusedo foro committingomurderoinotheonameoofo'encounter'oonotheopretextothato theyowereocarryingooutotheoordersoofotheirosuperioroofficersooro politicians,ohoweverohigh.oInotheoNuremburgotrialsotheoNaziowaro criminalsotookotheopleaothato'ordersoareoorders',oneverthelessotheyo wereohanged.oIfoaopolicemanoisogivenoanoillegaloorderobyoanyo superiorotoodooaofakeo'encounter',oitoisohisodutyotoorefuseotoocarryo outosuchoillegaloorder,ootherwiseoheowillobeochargedoforomurder,o ando ifo foundo guiltyo sentencedo too death.o Theo 'encounter'o philosophyo iso ao criminalo philosophy,o ando allo policemeno musto knowo this.o Triggero happyo policemeno whoo thinko theyo cano killo peopleoinotheonameoofo'encounter'oandogetoawayowithoitoshouldo knowothatotheogallowsoawaitothem."o o

15.o o However,oJobanpreetoSinghowaso22-year-oldowhenohe,oadmittedly,o diedoasoaoresultoofopoliceoexcess.oTheoincidentopertainsotootheoyearo2019obutotheo questoofotheofamiliesoofobothotheovictims,ostilloremainsounfinished.oAsosuch,othiso Courto iso ofo theo opiniono thato compensationo deserveso too beo awardedo too theo affectedoparties,oinoviewoofotheodiscussionoabove.o

16.o o Accordingly,otheoabovementionedopetitionsoareodisposedoofoinotheo followingoterms:o

(i)oo TheoStateoofoPunjaboisodirectedograntocompensationoofoRs.o 5,00,000/-otooGurchetoSingh,ohusbandoofotheopetitioneroinoCRM-M-23-2020,oandoRs.o15,00,000/-otooAmarjeetoKauro(petitioneroino CWP-4430-2020),omotheroofotheodeceased-JobanpreetoSingh,oaso o o CRM-M-23-2020(O&M)o 17o o o admittedly,oaomisfireofromotheopoliceocausedotheoallegedoincident,o withinoaoperiodoofoo08oweeksofromoreceiptoofoaocertifiedocopyoofo thisoorder.o

(ii)o TheopetitioneroinoCRM-M-23-2020-oAmandeepoKaurowillo beo ato libertyo too seeko alternateo remedieso foro redressalo ofo anyo survivingogrievances.o

17.o o Aophotocopyoofothisoorderobeoplacedoonotheofileoofootheroconnectedo case.o

18.o o Pendingo miscellaneouso application(s),o ifo any,o shallo alsoo stando disposedoof.oo

19.o o Beforeopartingowithothisoorder,othisoCourtowouldolikeotooexpressoitso gratitudeotootheolearnedoAmicusoCuriaeoforohisosignificantoassistance.oo o

o o oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo(HARPREEToSINGHoBRAR)o Reservedoono:oMayo12,o2025o o o oooooo ooooooooooJUDGEo Pronouncedoono:oMayo20,o2025o manishao o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo Yes/Noo WhetheroReportableo Yes/Noo o