Custodial Violence Prevention — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

For Prelims, the strategy for 'Custodial Violence Prevention' must be heavily focused on factual accuracy and precise recall. Begin by thoroughly memorizing the exact constitutional articles: Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and Article 22 (Protection against Arrest and Detention), understanding their core tenets.

Next, identify and learn the key IPC sections directly related to custodial violence, such as Sections 330, 331, 342, 348, and critically, Section 25 of the Indian Evidence Act. Pay close attention to the year and the core principle/guidelines of landmark Supreme Court judgments: D.

K. Basu (1997) for its 11 guidelines, Nilabati Behera (1993) for compensatory jurisprudence, Sheela Barse (1983) for women's rights in custody, and Arnesh Kumar (2014) for curbing indiscriminate arrests.

Create flashcards for these. Understand the structure and powers of the NHRC and SHRCs under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, particularly their advisory nature. Practice MCQs that test your ability to differentiate between similar-sounding provisions or judgments.

Focus on 'what' and 'when' for Prelims. For instance, a question might ask about a specific D.K. Basu guideline or the year of a particular judgment. Avoid confusing the details of one case with another.

Regularly revise these facts to ensure retention.