Key Points:
NHRC mandates uniform post-mortem protocols for custodial deaths
3-doctor autopsy board with qualified forensic experts made compulsory
Ajith Kumar case highlights custodial torture and systemic failures
Tamil Nadu orders review; report due by March 23, 2026
Experts call for transparency and global forensic standards
In the wake of serious procedural lapses in custodial death cases in Tamil Nadu, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed all States to strictly implement standardized protocols for post-mortem examinations.
The directive follows scrutiny of the deaths of B. Ajith Kumar of Madapuram and Akash Delison of Manamadurai in Sivaganga district—cases that have raised troubling questions about custodial violence, forensic integrity, and accountability.
Acting swiftly, N. Bhuvaneswari, Joint Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department, issued a letter on March 20, 2026, instructing the Director of Medical Education and Research to review current procedures.
The State has been asked to align its protocols with NHRC guidelines and submit an action-taken report by March 23, 2026, for onward submission to the Commission.
The NHRC has laid down key safeguards to improve the credibility of custodial death investigations:
Post-mortems must be conducted by a board of at least three doctors
Doctors should preferably be from three different institutions to minimize pressure or bias
All doctors must hold a postgraduate degree in forensic medicine
Each must have at least five years of experience in conducting autopsies
The Commission noted that doctors from the same institution may be vulnerable to hierarchical influence, potentially compromising the objectivity of findings.
The urgency of these reforms is underscored by the custodial death of Ajith Kumar, a temporary security guard from Madapuram.
On June 27, 2025, Ajith Kumar assisted a devotee’s family at the Badrakali Amman Temple by handling a car key for parking. When gold jewelry, about 10 sovereigns was later reported missing from the vehicle, a complaint was filed, and he was called in for questioning.
The next day, police detained him again and allegedly subjected him to brutal custodial torture across multiple locations, including near a veterinary hospital, a private grove, and temple premises. Reports indicate he was severely beaten, assaulted with weapons, and subjected to degrading treatment, including the use of chilli powder on sensitive parts of his body.
When his health deteriorated, he was first taken to a private hospital that reportedly refused treatment, and then transported in an autorickshaw to the Thirupuvanam Government Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
A preliminary autopsy revealed over 30 injury marks, pointing to extreme physical abuse.
After sharp observations from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, the Tamil Nadu government acknowledged the custodial death and transferred the investigation from CB-CID to the CBI.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin issued a personal apology to Ajith Kumar’s mother. The State also announced relief measures, including:
A government job at Aavin for the victim’s brother, B. Naveen Kumar
Allocation of three cents of land to the family
Concerns over flawed autopsy practices were also highlighted in the case of Akash Delison, another alleged custodial death victim.
A government forensic expert pointed out that his post-mortem, conducted at Government Rajaji Hospital by two doctors of unequal rank, may have been procedurally weak and vulnerable to influence.
The expert stressed that such hierarchies can lead to superficial or biased reporting, especially in sensitive custodial death cases where findings may contradict official narratives.
Forensic experts have backed the NHRC’s emphasis on cross-institutional autopsy boards, stating that teams of equal-ranking doctors from different institutions would ensure checks, balances, and impartiality.
Human rights advocate Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director of People’s Watch, welcomed the move but noted that similar guidelines already exist.
He referred to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court’s 2020 ruling in the Santosh vs. The District Collector case, which laid down detailed procedures for custodial death investigations.
Tiphagne emphasized that the issue lies not in the absence of guidelines but in their poor implementation. He called for:
Allowing families to view the body before and after autopsy
Providing autopsy reports and video recordings on the same day
Ensuring full transparency in forensic procedures
He also urged authorities to adopt international best practices such as the Minnesota Protocol and the Istanbul Protocol, which set global standards for investigating suspicious deaths and torture.
(Rh/ARC)
