Holding

The Court held that the police’s excessive use of force violated the petitioners' fundamental rights, justifying compensation, while affirming that the right to peaceful protest is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order.

Summary

The petitioners, migrants from Jammu & Kashmir, organized a peaceful march to Delhi to press for relief measures, but were stopped near Katra where police used lathi charge and tear‑gas, beating the petitioners even after the crowd was dispersed. The petitioners claimed violations of Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the Constitution and sought criminal action and compensation. The Court examined whether the right to peaceful assembly under Article 19(1)(b) can be reasonably restricted and whether the police’s use of force amounted to an excess violating fundamental rights. It held that while the right to protest is a fundamental right, reasonable restrictions are permissible, and the police’s continued use of force after control of the mob was unlawful. Consequently, the Court awarded monetary compensation to the petitioners for the violation of their fundamental rights. The writ petition was disposed with the compensation order.

Issues considered

The scope of the right to peaceful assembly and protest under Article 19(1)(b) and its reasonable restrictions.
Whether the police’s use of force constituted an unlawful excess violating Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22.
Whether compensation can be awarded under Article 32 for violation of fundamental rights caused by police misconduct.
The liability of the State for acts of its police personnel.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 143, s. 144
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 141, s. 268

Subjects

right to peaceful assemblyArticle 19police excesscompensationfundamental rightspublic orderuse of forcehuman rightsArticle 32state liability

Judgment

[2016] 4 S.C.R. 50

A ANITA THAKUR & ORS.
v.
GOVT. OF J & K & ORS.
(Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 118 of2007)
AUGUST 12, 2016
B
[A. K.· SIKRI AND R.K. AGRAWAL, JJ.)
Constitution of India : Arts. J9(1j(a), (b) and (c) - Right to
hold peaceful demonstration/Right to assemble/Right of free
movement - Allegation by writ petitioners that Respondent-
authorities manhandled them while they held peaceful protest march
c - Held: The right to hold peaceful demonstrations in order to air
grievances is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the
sovereignty and integrity of India, as well as public order - Thus,
while the citizens are guaranteed fimdamental right of speech, right
to assemble for the purpose of carrying peacefit! protest processions
D and right of free movement, reasonable restrictions on such right
can be put by law - On facts, it was the petitionerslprotesiors who
took the law into their hands - However, the police personnel
continued the use of force beyond limits even after controlling the
mob and thus misused their power - To that extent, fundamental
right of the petitioners was violated due to police excesses -
E. Compensation awarded to the petitioners - Police excesses -
Compensation.
Human rights : Use of excessive police force - Held: Amounts
to violation of human rights and human dignity.
Disposing of the writ petition, the Court
F
HELD: 1. Holding peaceful demonstration in order to air
their grievances and to see that their voice is heard in the relevant
quarters is the right of the people. Such a right can be traced to
the fundamental freedom that is guaranteed under Articles
19(l)(a), 19(1)(b) and 19(1)(c) of the Constitution. Article 19(l)(a)
G confers freedom of speech to the citizens of this country, this
provision ensures that the petitioners could raise slogan, albeit
in a peaceful and orderly manner, without using offensive
language. Article 19(1)(b) confers the right to assemble and, thus,
guarantees that all citizens have the right to assemble peacefully
and without arms. Right t~ move freely given under Article
H
50
ANITA THAKUR & ORS. v. GOVT. OF J & K & ORS. 51

19(1)(d), again, ensures that the petitioners could take out A
peaceful march. The right to peaceful protest is now recognized
as a fundamental right in the Constitution. However, the said
rights are subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the
sovereignty and integrity of India, as well as public order. It is for
this reason, the State authorities many a times designate
8
particular areas and routes, dedicating them for the purpose of
holding pnblic meetings. [Paras 8 and 9) [56-H; 57-A-B, C-E)
2. Provisions of IPC and Cr.P.C. are in the form of statutory
provisions which give powers to the State to ensure that such
public assemblies, protests, dharnas or marches are peaceful and
they do not become 'u11/awful'. At the same time, while exercising c
such powers, the authorities are supposed to act within the limits
of law and cannot indulge into excesses. In the present case,
initially it was the petitioners/ protestors who took the law into
their hands by turning their peaceful agitation into a violent one
and in the process becoming unruly and pelting stones at the D
police. On the other hand, even the police personnel continued
the use of force beyond limits after they had controlled the mob
and thus misused their power. To that extent, fundamental right
of the petitioners, due to police excess, has been violated. In
such circumstances, in exercise of power under Article 32 of the
Constitution, compensation awarded to the petitioners. [Paras E
11 and 14) [58-C; 60-D; 61-A-B)
Karam Singh v. Hardayal Singh. 1979 Crl.L.J. 1211 -
approved.
Saheli, A Women:~ Resources Cenrer. Through Ms.
Nalini Bhanot & Ors. vs. Co111111issioner of Police. Delhi
F
Polic_e Headquarters & Ors.(1990) 1 SCC 422 : 1989
(0) Suppl. SCR 488; .loginder Kaur i·s. The Punjab
State & Ors. (1969) ACJ 28; The State of Rajasthan
vs. Mst. Vidhywati & Anr.(l 962) Supp 2 SCR 989; S111t.
Nilabati Behera @ Lalita Behera (through the Supre111e G
Court Legal A id Committee) rs. State of Orissa &
Ors.(1993) 2 sec 746 : 1993 (2) SCR 581 -
explained.
Case Law Reference
1979 Crl.L.J. 1211 approved Para 11 H
52 SUPREME COUIU REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A 1989 (0) Suppl. SCR 488 explained Para 14
(1969) ACJ 28 explained Para 14
(1962) Supp 2 SCR 989 explained Para 14
19.93 (2) SCR 581 cxplainl·cl Para 14
CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURl~:)iC flON: Writ Petition
B
(Criminal) No. 118 of2007.
[Under Article 32 ofThe Constitution oflndia]
K. K. Venugopal, Prof. Bhim Singh, Sr. Advs., S. K.
Bandyopadhyay, Dr. (Ms.) Chandra Rajan, B. S. Billowria, Dinesh Kumar
Garg, Advs. for the Petitioners.
c
Sun ii Fernandes, Ms. Astha Sharma. Puneeth K. G., Advs. for the
Respondents.
The Judgment of the Cow1 was delivered by
A. K. SIKRI, J. I. In the present writ petition filed by the
petitioners under Article 32 of the Constitution oflndia, the petitioners
D who are migrants of the State of Jam mu & Kashmir (hereinafter referred
to as the 'migrants') state that they had planned to take out a peaceful
protest march upto Delhi for ventilating their grievances. However, when
they reached near Katra in Jammu & Kashmir, the respondent authorities
through their police personnel had beaten up and manhandled these
E migrants in a most brutal and barbaric manner on 07.08.2007. It is the
allegation of the petitioners that this incident has violated their rights
guaranteed to them under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the Constitution
of India and prayers are made in the petition for taking criminal action
against the erring officials, including respondent Nos. 3 to 9, and also to
pay compensation to each of the petitioners and other Jammu migrants
F who suffered serious injuries, in the sum of Rs. I 0 lakhs. Prayer is also
made to order the special investigation into the said episode of07.08.2007.
2. Giving detail background of the grievances of the migrants
leading to the said incident, it is mentioned that Ms. Anita Thakur,
petitioner No. I, is a General Secretary of the Jammu & Kashmir
G Panthers Party whereas petitioner No.2 is an Advocate and also the
Secretary of the said Party, who have been espousing the cause of the
Jammu migrants (about 2200 families) who were forced to leave their
homes between 1996-1999 in view of the terrorist attacks on these
families. Third petitioner is a senior Journalist who was also assaulted
and arrested on 07.08.2007 for giving media coverage of the incident in
1-1
ANITA THAKUR & ORS. v. GOVT. OF J & K & ORS. 53
[A. K. SJKRI, J.]

question. A
According to the petitioners. these migrants are living in most
miserable conditions and it became difficult for them to survive. Out of
these 2200 migrant families. about 950 families have been residing in
broken huts ofTalwara camp. For redressal of their grievances, a writ
petition in the nature of PIL (PIL No. 534/1999) was filed in the High B
Court of Jammu & Kashmir wherein order dated 06.09.2002 was passed
by the High Court directing that persons from Poonch, Rajouri, Doda,
Udhampur and Jammu provinces, who had suffered and been forced to
migrate on account of militancy would be entitled to the same treatment
as migrants from the Kashmir Valley. This order was challenged by the
State ofJammu & Kashmir by filing SLP (C) No. 34/2003 in this Cou11. c
In that SLP, the order dated 12.07.2006 was passed to the following
effect:
"Pursuant to our direction. the Relief Commissioner (Migrants)
filed an affidavit on 0~.12.2004 and in the affidavit the details are
given regarding the relief measures given to the Kashmir migrants D
and it is stated that the relief is being provided to various migrants
who are Kashmiri migrants and to migrants other than Kashmiri
migrants. In view of the averments stated in the affidavit, we do
not find any necessity to give further directions. However, counsel
for the respondents stated that some of the migrants are not being E
regularly paid the relicfmeasures and since March 2004 they are
not given any benefits. The Relief Commissioner may look into
the matter and see whether they have been provided with all relief
measures to which they are entitled as per the policy. lfthere are
lapses on the part of the officials or any arrears to be paid to the
migrants, the same shall be made available to them at the earliest. F
The ReliefCommissionerwould beat liberty to consider the migrant
status of any person and if it is found that if such persons are not
real migrants he would be at liberty to deny the relief measures to
such persons. With these directions, the appeal is disposed of.''
3. It is averred in the petition that in spite of the aforesaid order G
directing the ReliefCommissioner to look into the complnints by migrants,
who claimed that they were not regularly provirled relief measures since
March 2004 and to provide a II benefits to 1hc1n. including nrrears. if any,
no positive action was taken hy the respondents This forced the
petitioners to submit a 111en10rnnd1111110 the Dcp11tv ( 'o•lJlni~.,ioner. Reasi H
54 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A stating that ifthe order was not implemented within 15 days, the migrants
would resort to their protest march to Delhi and would meet the Prime
Minister oflndia for implementation of this order. This was followed by
another representation dated 23.07.2007 to the Chief Minister, Jammu
& Kashmir wherein they threatened that on the Government failure to
implement the order, the migrants woulri ;;::; on strike.
8
As nothing happened, on~ I 07.2007, the Talwara migrants started
their peaceful protest march from Talwara towards Jammu to head to
Delhi. According to the petitioners, the migrants were stopped about 6
kms. short of Katra town, at Ghar Baba J itto, after they had covered
about 20 kms towards Jammu. Police kept them in siege for 5 days.
c The protest marchers who were about 2000 in number il}_cluding old
persons, women and children were not allowed to proceed and were
made to sit at that place till 07.08.2007, the fateful day. On 07.08.2007,
following events occurred:
(i) At about I pm on this day, the three petitioners (all members of the
D Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party) arrived at Katra, to speak
with the concerned authorities regarding the plight of the migrants.
(ii) The petitioners conducted a one hour long discussion with the Dy.
Commissioner, Reasi, the Tehsildar, Reasi, Superintendent of Police, Reasi
and the SHO, Katra regarding the migrants' peaceful march.
E
(iii) The migrants resumed their peaceful march, and the petitioners joined
the march to ensure that there was no undue harassment by the Pol ice.
(iv) At about 2 pm, 500 armed policemen, blocked the bridge that the
migrants were about to cross and began attacking the marchers with
Lathis and teargas shells.
F
(v) Petitioner No. 2 attempted to approach the Police which included
respondent Nos. 6 to 9 to stop the attack, and was taken into custody
after being brutally assaulted and having his leg broken. He stayed in
Police custody without medical aid till 9 pm when he was taken first to
Katra Government Hospital and then shifted to Government Medical
G
Hosptial, Jammu at 11.30 pm. Petitioner No. I then attempted to approach
the Police to secure medical aid for the injured migrants. As soon as she
entered the Police control zone, she was violently attacked by several
police women, dragged on the ground for a long distance and put into a
Police jeep. Petitioner No. I was beaten inside the jeep and also at the
H Police Station. Petitioner No. 3 was also arrested fortrying to cover the
ANITA THAKUR & ORS. v. GOVT. OF J.& K & ORS. 55
[A. K. SIKRI, J.]

incident. A
4. Petitioner No. 1 was admitted to the Government Medical
College Hospital, Jammu on 08.08.2007. Copies of medical reports of
petitioner No. 1 have been filed by the petitioners. The Bar Association
of Jammu & Kashmir also started protest against the aforesaid criminal -·
assault on petitioner No. 2 by abstaining from Courts on 09.08.2007. B
Petitioner Nos. 2 and 3 were released on interim bail on I 0.08.2007 by
the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Katra pursuant to the directions of
the High Court and were thereafter granted regular bail on 14.08.2007.
5. The petitioners filed contempt petition No. 155/2007 alleging
violation of this Court's order dated 13 .07.2006 wherein notice was issued · c
by this Court on 20.08.2007. Thereafter, present petition was filed with
the prayers as aforesaid, in whfch show cause notice·"Was issued on
01.10.2007.
6. The respondents have appeared and denied the version of the
petitioners. The official version which has surfaced on record in the D
form of response to the various averments made in the writ petition is
that about 500 migrants on 01.08.2007 blocked the Reasi-Pouni road
near Baradari bringing the entire traffic on stand still. Dhama continued
the entire day and night and the unruly crowd damaged a police vehicle.
Leaders of the Panther's party in discussions with the administration
agreed to lift the Dharna. However, they back tracked and the dhama E
continued. On 02.08.2007, protestors started marching towards Katra.
Administration at Sula Park requested them to go back. All offers of
relief were turned down. On 03.08.2007, High Officials ofthe State
reached Serwad and persuaded the crowd to adopt a realistic and
pragmatic approach. Suggestions of providing ration and cash relief for F
three months at par with border migrants were given. Migrants initially
agreed to it and it was decided to gather at Aghar J itto temple where the·
. ration shall be distributed on the same day. However, the migrants later
refused the offer and demanded cash relief at par with Kashmiri migrants.
· High Officials camped at Serwad on 03/04.08.2007 to persuade the
migrants. On 05/06.08.2007, negotiations continued. Directions were G
given to provide facilities ofwater, medicine, food along with milk packets
for infants. Some of the demonstrators accepted the relief of the
Government. However, insofar as petitioners are concerned, instead of
amicably sorting out the issue, raised a new demand for providing arrears
for last 40 months. Police authorities informed the migrants that the H
56 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016] 4 S.C.R.

A competent authority shall be infonned and that they should return
peacefully and not march ahead to disturb the on going Amarnath and
Vishnu Devi Yatris. The agitated protestors, however, took strategic
positions alongside the. road and started pelting stones on the police
personnels who were trying to initiate dialogues. Few of them even
used their Lath is which they were carrying. The crowd marched towards
B
Balni Bridge where the police contingent reorganized. However, the
demonstrators had turned violent and wanted to proceed to Katra.
Keeping in view the security and in face of no other option, police resorted
to mild Lathi charge to control the mob. The injured migrants and the
policemen were taken to PHC-Katra. 17 Policemen along with Mr.
c Ashok Sharma (respondent No. 6) got severely injured and were rushed
to the hospital as well. Executive Magistrate Tehsildar, Reasi after taking
stock of the situation and attack on the police authorities by the mob and
the resulted injuries on police officers and civilians ordered SP Katra for
Lathi charge and use of tear smoke to disperse the unruly mob. In the
melee some persons from the mob including Mr. Jhalmeria got injured.
D
Respondent No. 6 was injured by the mob and was taken to the hospital.
Respondent No. 7 was manhandled by petitioner No. I who tore and
threw away his ranks from his uniform.
7. It becomes clear from the above that both the parties are
accusing each other. At the time of hearing, counsel for the parties
E stuck to their respective stands. In support of their versions, even the
CDs containing Video of the incident have been filed by both the parties.
We have seen the CD's filed by both the parties. However, on going
through the CD submitted, by the respondent State, it becomes clear that
the agitated protestors were the persons who were instrumental in
F triggering the incident inasmuch as it is they who took the first step in
disturbing the peace. It is these agitators who started pelting stones on
the police personnel and even used lathis while attacking the police
officials. No doubt, these demonstrators wanted to go ahead with their
march and they were restrained by the police from doing so. At the
same time, this step taken by the police was at the instance of higher
G authorities and they were given orders that these demonstrators be not
allowed to proceed with their march.
8. We can appreciate that holding peaceful demonstration in order
to air their grievances and to see that their voice is heard in the relevant
quarters is the right of the people. Such a right can be traced to the
H fundamental freedom that is guaranteed under Articles 19(1 )(a), 19(1 )(b)
ANITA THAKUR & ORS. v. GOVT. OF J & K & ORS. 57
[A. K. SIKRI, J.]

and 19(l)(c) of the Constitution. Article 19(l)(a) confers freedom of A
speech to the citizens of this country and, thus, this provision ensures
that the petitioners could raise slogan, albeit in a peaceful and orderly
manner, without using offensive language. Article 19( I )(b) confers the
right to assemble and, thus, guarantees that all citizens have the riglit to
assemble peacefully and without arms. Right to move freely given under
B
Article 19( I)( d), again, ensures that the petitioners could take out peaceful
march. The 'right to assemble' is beautifully captured in an eloquent
statement that ··an unarmed, peaceful protest procession in the land
of 'salt satyagraha ', fast-unto-death and 'do or die' is no Jura!
anathema". It hardly needs elaboration that a distinguishing feature of
any democracy is the space offered for legitimate dissent. One cherished c
and valuable aspect of political life in India is a tradition to express
grievances through direct action or peaceful protest. Organised, non-
violent protest marches were a key weapon in the struggle for
independence, and the right to peaceful protest is now recognised as a
fundamental right in the Constitution.
D
9. Notwithstanding above, it is also to be borne in mind that the
aforesaid rights are subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of
the sovereignty and integrity oflndia, as well as public order. It is for
this reason, the State authorities many a times designate particular areas
and routes, dedicating them for the purpose of holding public meetings.
E
I 0. On the other hand, there is always a possibility that a public
rally may become unruly, which can mean damage to life and property.
This is when a public assembly becomes 'unlawjit!', which is defined in
Section 141 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Under these circumstances,
the district administration and the police are permitted to disperse the
crowd to prevent injuries or damage. This may entail the use of force in F
a controlled and specified manner. We also have Section 268 of the IPC
which defines 'public nuisance' as any act 'which must necessarily
cause injury, obstruction, danger or annoyance to persons who may have
occasion to use any public right'. Further, Section 143 of the Cr.P.C.
empowers an Executive Magistrate to prohibit the repetition or G
continuation of public nuisances and Section 144 Cr.P.C. permits the
issuance of directions to members of the public to abstain from a certain
act or to take certain order with respect to certain property in his
possession or under his management, if such Magistrate considers that
such direction is likely to prevent, or tends to prevent, obstruction,
annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human H
58 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016) 4 S.C.R.

A life, health or safety, or a disturbance of the public tranquility, or a riot, or
an affray. These legal provisions provided a wide array of powers to
the police, including the right to use reasonable force to disperse any
unlawful assembly and maintain public order.
11. Thus, while on the one hand, citizens are guaranteed
B fundamental right of speech, right to assemble for the purpose of carrying
peaceful protest processions and right of free movement, on the other
hand, reasonable restrictions on such right can be put by law. Provisions
of IPC and Cr.P.C., discussed above, are in the form of statutory
provisions giving powers to the State to ensure that such public
assemblies, protests, dharnas or marches are peaceful and they do not
c become 'unlmr.fitl '. At the same time, while exercising such powers,
the authorities are supposed to act within the limits of law and cannot
indulge into excesses. How legal powers should be used to disperse an
unruly crowd has been succinctly put by the Punjab and Haryana High
Court in K<1r<1m Singh v. l/<1rd<1y<1/ Singlt wherein the High Court
1

D held that three prerequisites must be satisfied before a Magistrate can
order use of force to disperse a crowd:
First, there should be an unlawful assembly with the object of
committing violence or an assembly of five or more persons likely to
cause a disturbance of the public peace.
E Second, an Executive Magistrate should order the assembly to
disperse.
Third, in spite of such orders, the people do not move away.
12. Before adverting to the issue at hand, we would like to make
some general remarks about the manner in which these demonstrations
F
are taking shape. Recent happenings show an unfortunate trend where
such demonstrations and _protests are on increase. There are all kinds
of protests: on social issues, on political issues and on demands of various
sections of the society of varied kinds. It is also becoming a common
ground that religious, ethnic, regional language, caste and class divisions
G are frequently exploited to foment violence whenever mass
demonstrations or dharnas etc take place. It is unfortunate that more
often than not, such protestors take to hooliganism, vandalism and even
destroy public I private property. In the process, when police tries to
control, the protestors/mob violently target policemen as well. Unruly
1
H 1979 Crl. L.J. 1211
ANITA THAKUR & ORS. v. GOVT. OF J & K & ORS. 59
[A. K. SIKRI, J.]

groups and violent demonstrations are so common that people have A
become to see them as an appendage of Indian democracy. All these
situations frequently result in police using force. This in turn exacerbates
public anger against the police. In Kashmir itself there have been
numerous instances where separatist groups have provoked violence.
In this scenario, task of the police and law enforcing agencies becomes
B
more difficult and delicate. In curbing such violence or dispersing unlawful
assemblies, police has to accomplish its task with utmost care, deftness
and precision. Thus, on the one hand, law and order needs to be
restored and at the same time, it is also to ~e ensured that unnecessary
force or the force beyond what is absolutely essential is not used.
Policemen are required to undergo special training to deal with these c
situations. Many times the situations turn ugly or go out of control because
oflack of sufficient training to the police personnel to deal with violence
and challenges to their authority. There are various documents in the
form of police manual and even international covenants proscribing use
of unnecessary force and mandating that force should only be used
D
when it is absolutely necessary~. Even when used, it should be minimum

2 These docun1ents, inter a/ia, are:
(a) Model Rules on the Use of Force by the Police against unlawful Crowds (Adopted
by the Inspectors General of Police Conference, 1964 ).
(b) Police Manuals : For instance. the Kerala Police Manual. 1970 lays dO\ln a step-
by-stcp procedure to deal with unlawful assemblies: E
• The police must invariably secure the presence of a n1agistrate where it anticipates
a breach of peace
• The decision to use force and the type of force to be used is to be taken by the
magistrate
• Once the order for the use of force is given by the magistrate. the extent of force
to be used will be determined by the senior-m,ost police officer
• The extent of force used must be subject to the principle of minimum use of force
• Use of force should be progressive - i.e. firearms must be used as a last resort if tear F
smoke and lathi charge fail to disperse the crowd
• Common tearsmoke which causes no bodily injury and allows recovery of affected
persons should be used
• When the crowd is large and the use of tcarsmoke is likely to serve no useful
'\A purpose, the police may resort to lathi charge
• Lathi charge can only begin if the crowd refuses to disperse after suitable warning
• Clear warning of the intention to carry out a lathi charge should be given through
a bugle or whistle call in a language understood by the crowd. If available. a riot
G
flag must be raised. If the police officer in-charge is satisfied it is not practical
to give a warning, s/he 1nay order a lathi charge without warning.
• Lathi blows should be aimed at soft portions of the body and contact with the head
or collarbone should be avoided as far as practicable
• The lathi blows must not cease until the crowd is completely dispersed
• If the crowd fails to disperse through the lathi charge. the magistrate or the
competent officer may order firing H
60 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2016) 4 S.C.R.

A and proportional to the situation and its use to be discontinued as soon as
the danger to life and property subsidised.
13. In those cases where assembly is peaceful, use of police
force is not warranted at all. However, in those situations where crowd
or assembly becomes violent it may necessitate and justify using
B reasonable police force. However, it becomes a more serious problem
when taking recourse to such an action, police indulges in excesses and
crosses the limit by using excessive force thereby becoming barbaric or
by not halting even after controlling the situation and continuing its tirade.
This results in violation of human rights and human dignity. That is the
reason that human rights activists feel that police frequently abuses its
c power to use force and that becomes a serious threat to the rule of law.
14. When we examine the present matter in the aforesaid
conspectus, we find that initially it was the petitioners/protestors who
took the law into their hands by turning their peaceful agitation into a
violent one and in the process becoming unruly and pelting stones at the
D police. On the other hand, even the police personnel continued the use
of force beyond limits after they had controlled the mob. In the process,
they continued their lathi charge. They continued to beat up all the three
petitioners even after overpowering them. They had virtually
apprehended these petitioners making them immobile. However, their
E attack on these petitioners continued even thereafter when it was not at
• The fullest warning in a clear and distinct manner must be given to the crowd to
inform them that the firing will be effective
• If after the warning. the crowd refuses to disperse the order to fire may be given
• The police are not on any account allowed to fire except on a comn1and given by
their officer
• A warning shot in the air or firing over the heads of the crowd is not pern1itted
• An anned force should maintain a safe distance fron1 a dangerous crowd to prevent
F being overwhelmed. or increasing the chances of inflicting heavy casualties.
• Aim should be kept low and directed at the most threatening part of the crowd
• Firing should cease the moment the crowd show signs of dispersing
• All help should be rendered to convey the wounded to the hospital
• Police officers must not leave the scene of disturbance before satisfying themselves
beyond reasonable doubt about the restoration of tranquility
• An accurate diary of all incidents, orders and action along with the time of occurrence
G should be maintained by the police. This will include an individual report by all
officers involved in the firing.
• The number of fired cartridges and the balance of unfired cartridges should be
verified to ensure ammunition is accounted for
(c) The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRJ) is an independent. non-partisan
international non-governmental organisation, mandated to ensure the practical realisation·
of human rights in Commonwealth countries. CHRI is headquartered in New Delhi and has
offices .in London and Accra (Ghana).
H (d) Various orders passed by the National Human Rights Commission.
ANITA THAKUR & ORS. v. GOVT. OF J & K & ORS. 61
fA. K. SIKRI, J.l

all needed. As far as injuries suffered by these petitioners are concerned, A
such a situation could clearly be avoided. It is apparent that to that
extent, respondents misused their power. To that extent, fundamental
right of the petitioners, due to police excess, has been violated. In such
circumstances, in exercise of its power under Article 32 of the Constitution,
this Court can award compensation to the petitioners {See - Saheli, A
B
Women's Resources Center, Through Ms. Nalini Bhanot & Ors. v.
Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police Headquarters & Ors. 3 ;
Joginder Kaur v. Tile Punjab State & Ors. 4; The State of Rajastllan
v. Mst. Vidhywati & Anr. 5; and Smt. Nilabati Bellera@Lalita Bell era
(through the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee) v. State of Orissa
& Ors. 6 }. The ratio of these precedents can be explained thus: First, it c
is clear that a violation of fundamental rights due to police misconduct
can give rise to a liability under public Jaw, apart from criminal and tort
Jaw. Secondly, that pecuniary compensation can be awarded for such a
violation of fundamental rights. Thirdly, it is the State that is held liable
and, therefore, the compensation is borne by the State and not the
D
individual police officers found guilty of misconduct. Fourthly, this Court
has held that the standard of proofrequired for proving police misconduct
such as brutality, torture and custodial violence and for holding the State
accountable for the same, is high. It is only for patent and incontrovertible
violation of fundamental rights that such remedy can be made available.
Fifthly, the doctrine of sovereign immunity does not apply to cases of E
fundamental rights violation and hence cannot be used as a defence in
public law.
15. Keeping in view the totality of the circumstances of the present
case and finding that even the petitioners are to be blamed to some
extent, as pointed out above, the only relief we grant is to award F
compensation of' 2,00,000 (rupees two lakhs only) to petitioner No. I
and ' 1,00,000 (rupees one Jakh only) each to petitioner Nos. 2 and 3,
which shall be paid to these petitioners within a period of two months.
16. The writ petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.
Divya Pandey Writ Petition disposed of. G

' ( 1990) 1 sec 422
'(1969)ACJ28
' ( 1962) Supp 2 SCR 989
6
(1993)2 SCC746 H