An incident of alleged custodial violence inside Tihar jail has come under judicial scrutiny after CCTV footage presented before a Delhi court showed undertrial prisoners being forcibly taken out of their cell and beaten by jail staff. The footage, recorded on March 24, has raised serious concerns about the use of force within prison premises and prompted the court to seek accountability.
The visuals were produced by the jail superintendent during proceedings, following which the court questioned whether the actions of the officials were in line with established legal norms. The judge observed that the use of force in the incident did not appear to conform to the law, particularly given the status of the inmates as undertrial prisoners who remain under judicial protection.
CCTV footage raises questions
The footage reportedly shows a group of jail personnel pulling several undertrial prisoners out of their cell and assaulting them with sticks. The court took note of the sequence of events and the manner in which the prisoners were handled, indicating that the response appeared excessive.
While the jail superintendent acknowledged that force had been used beyond permissible limits, he claimed it was triggered by an earlier act in which an inmate allegedly threw a stone or brick from inside the cell.
Court questions justification
The court, however, found the explanation unconvincing. It noted that the alleged provocation had occurred more than 30 minutes before the prisoners were taken out and assaulted, weakening the argument that the force was used in self-defence.
Observing that undertrial prisoners remain in the custody of the court, the judge emphasised that any form of excessive force, even in response to misconduct, must be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. The court underlined that such inmates are entitled to legal safeguards and cannot be subjected to arbitrary punishment.
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Inquiry ordered, evidence secured
In response to the incident, the court directed that the CCTV footage, submitted on a pen drive, be sealed and preserved to prevent any misuse or tampering. It also sought a detailed report on the operational status of CCTV cameras installed in the offices of jail superintendents and deputy superintendents in Tihar.
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A copy of the order has been sent to the director general of prisons with instructions to conduct a thorough inquiry, identify those responsible, and submit a report before the next hearing scheduled for May 13, 2026. The outcome of the probe is expected to determine the course of action against the officials involved.
