Delhi HC Orders ₹50,000 Compensation To Man Illegally Detained For 30 Minutes

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has awarded ₹50,000 compensation to a man, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, who was illegally detained by police officers for 30 minutes. The court held both police officers jointly responsible for this act of misconduct and directed that the compensation be recovered from their salaries.

Mr. Sharma had approached the High Court seeking compensation for his unjust detention in September 2022 at the Badarpur police station. Investigations revealed that Mr. Sharma had called the police for assistance when an injured woman sought help at his shop. However, instead of addressing the situation appropriately, the police officers detained him without filing a First Information Report (FIR) against him.

The High Court expressed deep concern over the fact that Mr. Sharma had not been formally arrested but was instead arbitrarily taken into custody, brought to the police station, and placed in a lock-up without any valid reason. This behavior by the police authorities was deemed unacceptable, as it blatantly disregarded the constitutional and fundamental rights of a citizen.

The court emphasized that even a brief period of detention in a lock-up cannot absolve the police officers of their wrongdoing, as they failed to follow established legal procedures. It also noted that a mere censure, which would have no significant impact on the officers’ careers, would not serve as an adequate deterrent.

The court’s decision to recover the compensation from the police officers’ salaries sends a clear and meaningful message that police officers are not above the law and must adhere to due process. It also serves as a reminder to the police force that they have a duty to protect the fundamental rights of all citizens.