Indian courts order compensation and sanctions for Uttar Pradesh police negligence

Multiple judicial rulings in India have addressed instances of negligence and procedural failures by the Uttar Pradesh police.

The Supreme Court of India ordered the State of Uttar Pradesh to pay Rs 6 lakh in compensation to a man who spent six years in jail as an undertrial in an Agra kidnapping and murder case. The Court found that the investigation was based on “concocted story built on mere surmises and conjectures” and lacked even rudimentary investigation, leading to his eventual acquittal.

In separate actions, the Allahabad High Court addressed several instances of police misconduct. The Court ordered the Uttar Pradesh Police to pay Rs 25,000 to a woman who remained in jail for 12 extra days because officials failed to provide timely instructions to state counsel. The Court granted the department liberty to recover this amount from the salaries of negligent officers.

Additionally, the Allahabad High Court directed an investigating officer in a POCSO case to remain in court custody until 4 PM and pay Rs 5,000 to the Army Welfare Fund after she admitted to failing to collect an accused's mobile phone. In another matter, the Court directed the Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police to remain in the courtroom until 4 PM following a failure to produce an accused person despite a non-bailable warrant.