Overview

• A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh ordered the Assam Human Rights Commission to conduct an impartial and diligent inquiry into 171 alleged encounter killings since May 2021.
• Petitioner Arif Yeasin Jwadder claims over 80 staged gunfights have resulted in 28 deaths and 48 injuries during Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tenure.
• The commission is required to safeguard victims’ identities, grant families fair participation in proceedings and invite witnesses via public notice.
• The inquiry panel may appoint retired or serving police officers of unblemished record to assist with detailed investigations if deemed necessary.
• The court warned that proven fake encounters would violate Article 21’s right to life, while Assam Police insist the shootings were justified responses to threats.