Responding to a direction of the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), the State Government in its advisory categorically asked all the Superintendents of Police (SPs) on Friday not to arrest any women accused in dowry case after sun set.
The OHRC hearing a petition had pulled up a woman Sub-Inspector for undue haste in arresting a woman accused in a dowry case after sunset.
Taking exception to the act of police, the OHRC in its judgment had reminded the State Government and the State police of the existing guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the NHRC and also the Supreme Court not to arrest women relating to dowry related cases and family dispute matters after sunset.
Honouring the OHRC, the Home Department shot off letters to all district SPs to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and NHRC.
One Basanti Satpathy of Patia in Bhubaneswar in a petition to the OHRC had stated that she was arrested in the evening hours on May 11, 2012 despite NHRC guidelines.
Hearing the petition, the OHRC last month awarded Rs 50,000 as compensation to her along with the stricture. The police should refrain from misusing the provision in dowry cases, it cautioned.
As per the guidelines, the police should not arrest any women accused in dowry related cases at night hours and should wait till morning and police must produce her in the court within 24 hours of the arrest.
Besides, the police should not handcuff and inflict torture on the accused.
Even in case of family disputes, without acting in haste, the police should try to bring a negotiated settlement of the dispute between the wife and husband through consultation in six weeks time.