What do we mean by the term arrest?
In general words arrest means apprehension of an individual by a legal authority
that result in deprivation of liberty.
According to Farlex[1] "Arrest" means "a seizure or forcible restraint; an
exercise of the power to deprive a person of his or her liberty; the taking or
keeping of a person in custody by legal authority, especially, in response to a
criminal charge."
In
R.R. Chari v. State of Uttar Pradesh[2] The Supreme Court described arrest as
being taken into custody to be formally charged with a crime. According to the
court, it means the arrest of an individual in a constitutional context (body of
a person).
Types of arrest:
- Arrest carried out in compliance with a judge's warrant.
- Arrest carried out without warrant but under the legal guidelines laid
down.
Private arrest in which a person is detained by an individual is also a form of
arrest. However, it is permissible only if a person commits a non-bailable
offense in the presence or is apprehensive of the offense against a person or
his property and the right address of the residence or unknown to that person is
not released. But ample apprehension and justifiable cause should be found
before an individual is arrested.
Who can arrest?
Arrest can be made even by magistrate, police, and even a private person
Section 41(1) CrPC Says: Any police officer who is in possession of a robbery or
is a State offender and who obstructs the police officer in performing his
duties and who attempts to escape legal confinement or declared a defective
person by any of the Union Army Forces, without order from or without a warrant,
can be arrested by any person who has committed the cognizable offence.
Where there is reason to think that he is committing a non-bailable offense and
refuses to indicate his name or place of residence on an insistence of a police
force official, or gives a name or residence that that officer has reason to
believe is mistaken, it shall be dealt with pursuant to the provisions of
section 42.
Section 43 grants a private citizen like you and me the right to apprehend
someone who commits a cognizable or non-cognizable offense or who is a convicted
criminal in his or her presence. Section 44, arrested by a judge pursuant to
section 44(1) of the CrPC, has been authorized to detain and custody a person
who has committed an offense.
Rights available to the arrested person:
- At the time of arrest
- At the time of trial
At the time of arrest:
- Right to remain silent:
The right to self-inflict is guaranteed by Article
20(3) of the Indian constitution and this article has specified that no person
charged with a crime is required to serve as a witness in its own person. Rule
20(3) of the Indian constitution The Supreme Court ruling in Nandini Sathpathy
v. P.L.Dani[3] upheld this same principle and held in the case that, regardless
of what, none of the persons can physically extract a response from the
defendants and that the defendant has specific rights to be silent during an
examination and questioning.
- Right to know the grounds of arrest:
Section 50 of CrPC states that any
police officer or someone allowed to arrest a person without an order should
inform the arrested person of the crime and any grounds on which that person was
arrested. It is the responsibility that cannot be denied by the police officer.
- Section 50A of CrPC allows an arrester person to inform any friend or family
member or other person in their interest of the arrest. The Police Officer must
notify the arrested person, if placed under detention, that he has the right to
know about his arrest.
- Section 55 of the CrPC specifies that if a police officer has allowed its
subject to arrest a person without a warrant, it is important for the
subordinate officer to inform the person being detained, detailing the crime and
other reasons for the arrest, of the content of a written order.
- Section 75 of CrPC states that the police officer (or other officers) who
executes the warrant should inform the arrested person of the substance and, if
appropriate, provide him with a warrant.
- Section 22(1) of the Indian Constitution also states that, without
informing the reasons of the arrest, no police officer shall arrest any
individual.
- Right to be produced before magistrate without delay
Section 55 of CrPC provides that an arresting police officer without an order
should deliver the person detained without undue delay, subject to conditions of
detention, in front of the magistrate with jurisdiction or a police agent
responsible for the police station.
Section 76 of the CrPC stipulates that an arrest warrant police officer should
deliver a person detained before the court to which he is bound by statute to
produce that person. It says the individual must be manufactured within 24 hours
of arrest. In the calculation of the 24 hour duration, the period needed for the
trip from the place of detention to the Court of Justice should be exclude.
Article 22(2) of the Constitution specifies that within 24 hours of arrest the
police official who makes the arrest should be made in front of the Magistrate.
In case the police officer does not arrive in 24 hours before the magistrate, he
shall be responsible for unlawful arrest[4].
- Rights to be released on bail.
Subsection (2) of section 50 CrPC states that a police officer is entitled to
release on bail and arrange for sureties on his own behalf if an individual is
detained for non-cognizable offenses without a warranty.
At the time of trial:
- Right to a fair trial
CrPC does not provide for any clause concerning the right to a fair trial,
although certain rights can be taken from the Constitution and the various
decisions. According to Article 14 of the Constitution, "all persons are equal
in law." It means equality of justice for all parties to the conflict. In
relation to all sides, the concept of natural justice should be understood. The
court held that the trial is to be disposed of as quickly as possible," right to
an expedited trial in the case Huissainara Khatoon vs. Home Secretary of State
of Bihar[5].
- Right to consult a lawyer
The right of prisoners to communicate with their counsel during questioning is
provided for in Section 41D of the CrPC. According to Article 22(1) of the
Constitution, the accused person is entitled to appoint a lawyer and to stand up
for the pleader of his choosing.
The CrPC Section 303 states that a lawyer of his choosing shall have the right
to be defended where a person is suspected to have committed an offense before
or against a criminal court.
- Right to write a book
In State of Maharashtra v. Prabhakar Pandurang[6], a book was written on science
and the petitioner asked the government to permit him to send this book to his
wife so she can give it further for publication. The government refused to give
permission. The court held that this was against Article 21 of Indian
constitution as because it was infringement of personal liberty which gives
every individual a right to write a book and publish it.
- Right to free legal aid
In section 304 of the CrPC, where a trial is held before the Court and the
accused is not supported by the practitioner of the law, or the accused does not
seem to be able, then court may appoint a pleader at the expense of the State.
In order to ensure justice, Article 39A compels the State to offer free legal
assistance. In the case of Khatri VS State of Bihar[7], this right has been
granted explicitly. The court held that "the indigent accused must get free
legal assistance." It is also issued when the accused first time begins to be
brought before the Magistrate. It is not possible to deny the right of the
accused even though the accused may not request it. If the state does not
provide the indigent accused with legal assistance, the entire proceedings would
be vitiated as void. Similar scenario took place in the case of Sukh Das vs.
Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh[8].
- Right against handcuffing
Handcuffing is inhumane and violates Article 21 of the Indian constitution. The
Supreme Court ruled in Prem Shankar v. Delhi Administration[9] that an accused
should only be handcuffed if there is a clear possibility of escape during the
trial. There were also rules stating that if an accused is sentenced to more
than three years in prison for a non-bailable offence, he must be handcuffed on
a regular basis. In the case of Birendra Kr Rai vs. UOI, 1992[10], the Court
held that if a person submits to custody, it is not necessary to handcuff him or
her.
- Right to be examined by the medical practitioner
Section 54 CrPC states that if the person under arrest alleges his body to be
examined, the court may order the accused, at its request (accused), to be
medically examined by him or herself, unless it has been identified that his/her
case has been investigated by another person or that it may lead some other
person against his or her body. The Court may order the accused party to be
examined at his/her request.
- Right to against custodial violence
Several incidents of cruel police behaviour towards the accused have occurred.
The Apex Court has classified cruelty and harassment as an offence against the
dignity of an individual, fearing the accused in submission and confession. It
violates Article 21 as it safeguards human dignity from this torture in the
Indian Constitution.
Major landmark case of arrest was
D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal [11] in
which it was held that the case therefore offered a distinctive judgment in
which the rules concerning an individual's detention were otherwise prescribed
in the name of justice. It prohibits any breach of an individual's rights during
imprisonment. Even if the right process has now been set by statute and anyone
who disdained the court is punishable.
An efficient mechanism was essential for
the administration of the criminal system in a country like India. This case
formed as a reference case in accordance with the guidelines provided by the
custody bench. The State is obligated whether it is convicted of a violation or
of a natural innocent individual to protect people.
Conclusion
The case thus gave a distinctive judgment in which orders on the detention of a
person were prescribed otherwise, in the interest of justice, further crimes had
been committed. It prohibits violations of a person's rights during detention
and thereby protects all people in such legal procedures.
While the correct
procedural procedure has now been defined by statute and someone who dislikes
the court is liable to be convicted, there are still offenses like the ones in
the case above. or does something that is causing injustice to many innocent
people and violation of citizens' human rights. Tougher laws are also required
to prevent the misery of innocent people.
Before this, I believe that an effective framework was required to manage the
criminal system that exists in a country like India. This case formed as a
reference case in accordance with the guidelines provided by the custody bench.
The State's responsibility to protect the public is either to be charged with an
offence or a typical innocent person.
The law cannot be harmful and cannot refuse the fundamental rights of those in
custody of the police, such as freedom and integrity.
End-Notes:
- Legal Dictionary by Farlex
- 1951 AIR 207, 1951 SCR 312
- 1978 AIR 1025
- Manoj v. State of M.P. (1999)3 SCC 715
- 1979 SCR (3) 532
- AIR 1966 SC 424
- 1981 SCC (1) 627
- 1986 SCR (1) 590
- 1980 AIR 1535
- AIR 1992 All 151
- MANU/SC/0157/1997
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