Custodial death case: top court tells M.P., CBI to arrest police officers by October 7, Pg10.

Key Highlights:

• SC granted MP govt. and CBI time till October 7 to arrest two absconding police inspectors, Sanjiv Singh Mawai and Uttam Singh Kushwaha.
• Failure would invite contempt proceedings; officials may be summoned, including the DGP of Madhya Pradesh.
• SC observed “no progress in compliance” of its May 15 order transferring the probe to the CBI.
• Court had earlier taken exception to salaries being disbursed to absconding officers, terming it “aggravated contempt.”
• State counsel clarified that salaries were stopped since May; officers absconding since April.
• Authorities directed to file an affidavit of compliance by October 7.

Detailed Insights:

• Judicial accountability: SC’s intervention underscores its role in ensuring rule of law and preventing impunity in custodial death cases.
• Police impunity challenge: Failure to arrest accused officers despite SC orders highlights systemic issues in police accountability and state compliance.
• Federal dimension: Case shows how Supreme Court supervises state compliance while directing CBI investigations in sensitive cases.
• Custodial deaths context: According to NCRB 2022 data, custodial deaths remain a recurring issue, often linked to torture, delay in FIRs, and weak oversight mechanisms.
• Implications: If non-compliance persists, it could lead to contempt charges, straining State-Centre coordination and raising questions of executive inertia.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Contempt of Court: Legal provision under Articles 129 & 142 of the Constitution and Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, empowering SC/HC to enforce compliance.
• Custodial Death: Death of a person in police/judicial custody, often linked to human rights violations; requires NHRC and judicial inquiry.