The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay ₹2 lakh compensation to a Prayagraj resident, Mansoor Ahmad, after finding that he was illegally detained by police for eight days.
The court observed that Mansoor Ahmad’s detention was unlawful and amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
A division bench of Justice Siddharth and Justice Vinay Kumar Dwivedi passed the order while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed in the matter.
Family Alleged Police Picked Him Up Without Reason
According to the petition, Mansoor Ahmad was taken from his home in Prayagraj on the night of March 19 by police personnel.
His family alleged that the police did not provide any clear reason for the detention. The petition also claimed that when family members protested, Ahmad’s wife was allegedly mistreated by police personnel.
The family further alleged that Mansoor Ahmad was tortured while in police custody and that his physical condition had deteriorated significantly during the detention period.
No Evidence He Refused Bail Bond, Says Court
In its order, the High Court said there was no evidence on record to prove that Mansoor Ahmad had refused to furnish a personal bond, which could have justified continued custody.
The bench held that he was kept in detention for an extended period without following due legal procedure.
“The detention of the petitioner was illegal,” the court observed, adding that authorities had failed to comply with constitutional safeguards.
The court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay compensation of ₹2 lakh within six weeks and ordered that the amount may later be recovered from the officer found responsible.
High Court Criticises Prayagraj Police Functioning
The High Court also made strong observations about the functioning of the Prayagraj police administration.
The bench said powers given to police officers were being misused and warned that such incidents raise serious concerns about the rule of law.
The court directed the Police Commissioner to submit a compliance report in the matter and warned that failure to follow the order could lead to personal appearance before the court.
Court Sets Important Principle on Illegal Detention
In an important observation, the High Court stated that keeping any person in custody for more than 24 hours without valid legal grounds would be considered illegal.
The court further said that in such cases, compensation of up to ₹25,000 per day of illegal detention may be granted to the victim.
