🌍 Standing Up for Justice: Young Legal Voices Speak on Torture in India

 

🌍 Standing Up for Justice: Young Legal Voices Speak on Torture in India

By PVCHR Blog Team

On the occasion of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, PVCHR proudly acknowledges the powerful presentation delivered by Aditya Mishra and Ms. Khushi Yadav, both second-year BA LLB students at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth University. Their commitment to human rights and legal empowerment was evident as they boldly addressed the grim reality of torture in India, calling for urgent reforms and societal solidarity.

🔍 Torture: A Crime, Not a Culture

The duo began by defining torture through the lens of the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT)—an act inflicting severe pain, often under official sanction, used to punish or extract information. Their presentation emphasized that torture thrives in the shadows, especially when ignorance and fear dominate the legal landscape.

📉 Torture in India: A Crisis of Accountability

The students highlighted stark statistics:

• Over 2,300 custodial deaths in a single year, with five people dying in custody every day.

• Uttar Pradesh leading in custodial deaths and fake encounters.

Real-life cases like Vijay Soni from Kaushambi and Sahiba Bano from Sonbhadra were shared—heartbreaking stories of abuse, silence, and systemic failure. These stories were not exceptions but chilling indicators of a broader pattern of injustice.

⚖️ Legal Protections: Know Your Rights

Aditya and Khushi skillfully unpacked the constitutional and legal framework meant to protect citizens:

• Article 21 – Right to life and dignity.

• Article 22 – Right to legal counsel and prompt judicial oversight.

• Section 330/331 of IPC (now BNS) – Penalizing torture during interrogation.

• NHRC Guidelines and DK Basu judgment – Mandating protocols for custody and arrest.

Despite these safeguards, the gap between law and implementation remains dangerously wide.

🌐 A Call for Change

India has signed but not yet ratified UNCAT, and has yet to enact a standalone anti-torture law. The students called for:

• Ratification of UNCAT

• Police accountability and transparency

• Enforcing DK Basu guidelines

• Legal aid and awareness campaigns at the grassroots

🕯️ From Custody to Courtroom—Not Coffin

Their message was crystal clear: "This day is not about shaming the police. It’s about stopping the misuse of power." The final takeaway—let us ensure no more Vijay Sonis, only empowered citizens who know their rights and live with dignity.

At the heart of PVCHR’s mission, we witness young changemakers like Aditya Mishra and Khushi Yadav transform legal knowledge into powerful advocacy.

Their bold stand against custodial torture reminds us that true justice begins not in silence, but in solidarity.

As we observe June 26—UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture—we reaffirm our pledge:

To remember is not enough. We must act.

👏 A Salute to Young Changemakers

PVCHR applauds Aditya Mishra and Ms. Khushi Yadav for using their legal education as a tool for advocacy and awareness. Their voice adds strength to our collective struggle against custodial torture and impunity. As we mark June 26, we invite everyone to stand with victims—not just in memory, but in action.

#JusticeMatters #EndTorture #PVCHR #LegalEmpowerment #UNDayAgainstTorture

UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (PVCHR) by pvchr.india9214 on Scribd