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Madras HC Madurai Bench upholds remand of police officials in custodial death case after framing murder charges; Section 91 BNSS bond does not equate to bail for Category B offences under Satender Kumar Antil.
The Rajasthan High Court ordered the state to pay Rs 25 lakh to Lila’s family and directed immediate FIR registration, emphasizing the state’s Article 21 duty to protect life in detention. It also issued sweeping prison-reform directives, signalling stricter accountability for custodial deaths.
The Bombay High Court held the State liable for gross negligence leading to a patient’s death in Yerwada Mental Hospital, awarding Rs.22 lakh compensation by adapting motor accident claim principles to custodial death. This sets a precedent for calculating damages in mental health custodial cases, especially when dependents suffer permanent disability, reinforcing the state’s non-delegable duty under Article 21.
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has ruled that when death is conclusively established through medical records, post-mortem report, and religious certification, authorities cannot deny a death certificate on technical grounds like form defects. This sets a binding standard for registrars: once death is proven, a certificate must be issued within two weeks of proper application, safeguarding families' rights to legal recognition and benefits.