NEW DELHI: An NGO has raised concerns over an alleged “disregard” for the rule of law and “inadequate compliance” with arrest procedures by certain police personnel, as it released a report on the state of policing in the country.
According to the report, Status of Policing in India Report 2025: Police Torture and (Un)Accountability, published by Common Cause NGO, a significant proportion of police officers “justify the use of torture and violence” in the course of their duties.
The report further claimed that many officers believe they should be permitted to use force without the fear of punishment.
The NGO stated that the report was compiled in collaboration with the Lokniti Programme of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
A survey was conducted among 8,276 police personnel of various ranks at 82 diverse locations, including police stations, police lines, and courts across 17 states and Union territories.
Responses were collected from both urban and rural areas, including state capitals, district headquarters, and towns of varying sizes, the NGO asserted.
The respondents included constables (Constables and Head Constables), upper subordinate officers (ranging from Assistant Sub-Inspector to Deputy Superintendent of Police), and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, the report claimed.
Additionally, the study incorporated in-depth interviews with doctors, lawyers, and judges who regularly interact with both the police and those in custody.
“The findings of this study indicate that a significant proportion of police personnel justify the use of torture and violence in the course of their duties, and also believe that they should be allowed to use force without any fear of punishment,” the NGO claimed.
The report stated that 20 per cent of police personnel felt it was “very important” for the police to use tough methods to instil fear among the public, while another 35 per cent believed it to be “somewhat important”.
“One in four police personnel strongly justify mob violence in cases of sexual harassment (27%) and child lifting/kidnapping (25%). This suggests that about a fourth of India’s police personnel support the idea of mobs acting as the judge, jury, and executioner in matters they consider grave,” the report alleged.
The report also noted that across different crime categories, constabulary and IPS officers were the most likely to justify mob violence, whereas upper subordinate officers were the least likely to do so.
Furthermore, 22 per cent of police personnel were reported to believe that killing “dangerous criminals” was preferable to subjecting them to a legal trial. However, more experienced and upper subordinate officers were relatively less inclined to agree with this statement, the report alleged.
Regarding “poor compliance with arrest procedures,” the report found that 41 per cent of police personnel claimed that arrest procedures were “always” followed, whereas 24 per cent admitted that they were “rarely or never” adhered to.
“Kerala reported the highest compliance (94% said ‘always’). IPS officers (33%) are the least likely to say that these procedures are always complied with, while upper subordinates (49%) are the most likely to say so,” the report stated.
Additionally, only 62 per cent of police respondents indicated that an arrested individual was “always” released on bail immediately at the police station for bailable offences, while 19 per cent stated that this “sometimes” occurred, the report alleged.
The report emphasised that anyone arrested for a bailable offence has a legal right to be released on bail rather than being kept in custody.
Moreover, just over half of respondents (56%) affirmed that it was “always” feasible or practical for the police to produce a suspect before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, the synopsis noted.
The report asserted that the police in India maintain a strong reliance on a culture of fear and “tough methods”.
“Thirty per cent of police personnel said that ‘third-degree methods’ are justified towards the accused in serious criminal cases. Nine per cent said they are justified in petty offences. IPS officers and those respondents who often conduct interrogations are the most likely to justify the use of third-degree methods,” the report alleged.
Furthermore, 11 per cent of police personnel stated that hitting or slapping family members of an accused person was absolutely justified, while 30 per cent believed it was sometimes justified, the NGO report claimed.
