New Delhi: A recent study on police torture and accountability has found that Kerala police are the most likely to adhere to arrest procedures, while Karnataka ranks the lowest in compliance.
The Status of Policing in India Report 2025: Police Torture and (Un)Accountability, conducted by Common Cause with support from Lokniti, CSDS, and the Lal Family Foundation, revealed that 94% of surveyed Kerala police personnel stated that arrest procedures were “always” followed, with the remaining 6% indicating that compliance was “occasional.”
In contrast, Karnataka showed a significantly lower adherence rate, with 70% of surveyed officers admitting that arrest provisions were “rarely or never” followed, while only 13% reported consistent compliance. Jharkhand also performed poorly, with 43% acknowledging a lack of adherence, and Bihar faring even worse at 51%.
The study emphasized that these findings reflect police officers’ perceptions rather than actual compliance levels. Additionally, it highlighted that over half the police personnel in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka believe minor punishments by the police are preferable to legal trials.
Meanwhile, Odisha (82%), Rajasthan (77%), and Kerala (72%) reported the highest preference for due legal process, whereas Jharkhand (55%), Andhra Pradesh (51%), and Karnataka (50%) ranked among the lowest.
The study also found that urban police personnel (40%) are more inclined to administer minor punishments instead of legal trials for petty offenses, compared to 32% in rural areas.
In a concerning trend, Gujarat police personnel were the most likely to justify mob violence against suspects, with 57% endorsing it “to a great extent.” In contrast, Kerala police showed zero support for mob justice.
