Supreme Court agrees to hear female lawyer's plea subjected to 14 hrs of illegal detention, custodial sexual assault

The Supreme Court today issued notice in a petition filed by a practicing female Advocate, who was allegedly subjected to a sustained period of 14 hours of illegal detention, custodial sexual assault, torture, and coercion by uniformed police personnel at P.S. Noida Sector 126, U.P. commencing late on the night of December 3, 2025 while she was levying her professional duty towards her client.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and NV Anjaria was first reluctant to hear the petition but later agreed to do so in light of the arguments made on behalf of the petitioner that CCTV cameras were shut off. "Normally we would not entertain this case however considering the serious allegations made in the petition and the fact that the issue also relates to locking of CCTV cameras, which this bench is monitoring, we are entertaining this petition. Issue notice returnable 7th January. In the meantime Commissioner of Police, Gautam Buddha Nagar is to ensure that the CCTV footage for the concerned duration in the police station is not deleted and is kept in sealed cover.", the bench has ordered.

Court has been told that the deliberate and malicious assault on a female Advocate, an officer of the court, warrants not only immediate individual redress towards inquiry and CBI/SIT investigation, but also the exercise of the Court's plenary jurisdiction to formulate and issue mandatory National Guidelines/Law for the ‘protection and dignity of women Advocates across the country, ensuring their fundamental right to practice the profession with parity, safety, and security.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the lady lawyer told court today, "This lady lawyer was sexually mauled. They have locked out the CCTV camera. Let that be immediately seized. The complainant was forced to withdraw his complaint. All this will have to be looked into. This is very serious..".

Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani also appeared for the aggrieved advocate and told court, "They seized my mobile and deleted all the videos. There was a threat to my life. It is traumatic. I am scared."

The petitioner has sought direct intervention from the Supreme Court due to extreme urgency and lack of alternative remedy. "She faces death threats and coercion from police officers, and her life and liberty are at risk. The distance to the relevant High Court (Allahabad) from her location (Delhi) adds to the urgency, making it necessary to approach the Supreme Court under Article 32 for immediate protection", the plea adds.

Notably, the Apex Court is also seized of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across the country, following media reports of 11 custodial deaths in 2025. The Bench had taken note of a report published in Dainik Bhaskar highlighting the alarming rise in custodial deaths over the past seven to eight months.

“Based on Dainik Bhaskar, we are directing a suo motu PIL titled Lack of functional CCTVs in police stations, as 11 custodial deaths were reported in 2025 over the past 7–8 months,” Justice Nath had observed. The Court’s intervention marked a significant step towards enforcing compliance with its earlier directions mandating CCTV installation in all police stations to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Dainik Bhaskar report stated, "There have been 11 deaths in police custody in the state within 8 months of 2025. 7 deaths have occurred in Udaipur division. In August, two bullion traders died in Kankroli police station of Rajsamand district and Rishabhdev police station of Udaipur district. Information was sought under RTI in all the cases." The development came nearly five years after the Supreme Court, in a landmark 2020 judgment delivered by Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, KM Joseph and Aniruddha Bose, had made CCTV installation in all police stations across the country mandatory.

Case Title: X vs. Union of India

Bench: Justices Nath and Anjaria

Order Date: December 19, 2025