'This has to stop': Gujarat HC slams police over public parading

By A Representative

The Gujarat High Court has issued a strong rebuke to the Vadodara City Police over the alleged custodial torture and public parading of five individuals, including young adolescents and their mother, in connection with a minor offence of hurling eggs at a Ganesh idol.

Hearing a contempt petition on May 7, 2026, a Division Bench comprising Justice B D Karia and Justice L K Pirzada observed that such acts of public humiliation amount to “State terrorism” and a “fragrant violation” of the Supreme Court’s landmark guidelines in DK Basu vs. State of West Bengal.

The petitioners — residents of the communally sensitive Pani Gate area in Vadodara — were allegedly paraded with their hands tied, forced to apologize publicly, and their videos circulated on official police social media handles. Their counsel, Advocate Anand Yagnik, described the conduct as extra-judicial punishment aimed at asserting police supremacy.

“Every now and then, we come across instances of public parading in newspapers. We really want to know what is the basis of this, and why is the law of the Supreme Court being violated so flagrantly?” the Bench remarked sternly. “This is a very serious issue, and it has to stop. Tomorrow, it can happen with anyone.”

The court issued notices to the accused police officers, including ranks of Police Inspector and Deputy Commissioner of Police. Without further hearing, the Bench signaled its intent to club multiple similar petitions alleging illegal parading and hear them together on June 18, 2026.

In a swift administrative response, Gujarat’s Director General of Police, Dr. K.L.N. Rao, issued a standing order on May 12 — less than a week after the court’s intervention — directing all senior officers to sensitize personnel against human rights violations, citing past judicial censure on handcuffing, tying with ropes, and public parading.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 18, where multiple cases on the issue will be taken up together.

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