A Bench of justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan pointed out that the fundamental rights ensured in the Constitution even protected individuals against any sort of arbitrary arrest and illegal detention.

“Tolerance of police atrocities, as in the instant case, would amount to acceptance of systematic subversion and erosion of the rule of law. Therefore, illegal regime has to be glossed over with impunity, considering such cases of grave magnitude,” the court said.

Plea dismissed
The apex court dismissed the appeal filed by five Punjab police officials including DSP Jaspal Singh and ASI Amarjit Singh who were held guilty in the custodial death case of Amritsar-based human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in 1995 and awarded life term.
“We do not find any reason to interfere with the well reasoned judgment and order of the high court.

The facts of the case do not warrant review of the findings recorded by the courts below,” the court said.

Identified appellants
It noted that Paramjit Kaur, wife of deceased and witnesses Rajiv Singh and Kirpal Singh Randhawa  have identified the appellants as the persons who have abducted Khalra.
Khalra had taken the task to expose the misdeeds of the police who killed people under the pretext of being terrorists and cremating them without any identification process.
As suchm the officials abducted him on September 6, 1995. They never cooperated with the CBI to which the case was handed over for investigation.