SARSWATI DEVI Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the State.

(2.) The petitioner seeks direction to the respondent authorities to carry out independent investigation into the custodial death of the petitioner's son Shashi Bhushan Singh on 30.3.2002 in Chapra Divisional Jail by an independent agency or respondents themselves and for exemplary compensation to the kith and kin of the deceased prisoner.

(3.) So far as the first direction is concerned, as a matter of fact, the National Human Rights Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of a report of NDTV dated 2.4.2002 regarding killing of six prisoners in Chapra Jail on 30.3.2002 and an investigation team was sent for spot investigation from 16.4.2002 to 24.4.2002 and a report was submitted by the team through letter dated 21.2.2008. The enquiry report has been annexed as Annexure-A to the supplementary counter affidavit filed on behalf of the respondents. In the said enquiry report the investigation team finally recorded in its report as follows :