HHRF News Desk
Jaipur, January 22: The office of Rajasthan’s Additional Director General of Police (Crime Branch), Hawa Singh Ghumaria, has issued a directive aimed at safeguarding the fundamental rights of people in custody. In line with this order, the Rajasthan Police will no longer publicly release photographs of arrested individuals.
The move is intended to protect the privacy and identity of accused persons, particularly in cases where identification parades are required.
The revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) follows a judgment delivered by the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, just a day earlier.
The directive refers to Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees personal dignity, self-respect and honour, stating that these rights do not diminish upon arrest. It further clarifies that an accused remains legally innocent until proven guilty after a fair trial, and that circulating or uploading images of arrestees amounts to humiliation and violates human dignity.
To implement these safeguards, the SOP prescribes detailed conduct and media guidelines for police personnel. All detainees are to be treated in a humane, lawful and civilised manner. Accused individuals must not be publicly shamed, displayed or portrayed as confirmed criminals. Custodial arrangements — including seating, transport and holding — must be safe and dignified. Officers are also directed to exercise particular sensitivity toward women, senior citizens, young women and vulnerable groups.
The order explicitly bans the sharing or uploading of photos or videos of accused persons across platforms. Individuals in custody must not be presented before the media in degrading circumstances. During official briefings, police are required to use restrained and respectful language. Personnel are strictly instructed not to engage in any conduct that could contribute to a “media trial.”
The directive has been circulated across senior levels of the Rajasthan Police, including the Director General of Police, as well as specialised units such as Intelligence, Cyber Crime and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The guidance underscores that while law enforcement must proceed firmly, it should not come at the cost of an individual’s basic constitutional dignity.
