• AMIRTHA VARDHINI.T
• ARUN KARTHIC.A

Recently, India has witnessed numerous reports of excessive use of force by the police against ordinary citizens, commonly referred to as police brutality. Various states within the country operate under distinct rules and practices for their police forces and officials. Unfortunately, citizens often bear the brunt of police actions, whether through acts of cruelty or negligence in addressing their grievances, especially the treatment of the vulnerable section is unbearable. The unwarranted and aggressive use of force by police personnel in India has become an alarming concern, leading to numerous incidents of custodial torture, death, and other severe human rights violations. The concept of police accountability is getting submerged day by day. This paper examines various case studies from across India that highlight instances of alleged police misconduct like the police atrocities during the Covid 19 pandemic and encounters in the states like Hyderabad (rape case) and in Uttar Pradesh and also the custodial death which was a major issue in Tamil Nadu and evaluates key judicial decisions on such matters and the implication and enforcement of these decisions compiled by the states practically. The research discusses the establishment of oversight mechanisms, (For instance Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs) as per Prakash Singh's judgment) which laid the groundwork for comprehensive police reforms. Despite these efforts, the actual implementation of reforms has been uneven, with political resistance and bureaucratic inertia undermining their effectiveness. The paper aims to identify the core issues affecting police accountability, including political interference, inadequate training, overburdened personnel, and other systemic challenges that are often unaddressed.This paper also seeks to examine another critical aspect, the public's support for such unlawful acts when they perceive these actions as delivering justice. Additionally, it explores the international standards regarding the use of force by law enforcement officials and assesses India's adherence to these norms. The paper also seeks to propose measures to mitigate the excessive aggressiveness in police actions while ensuring the maintenance of law and order within the state through legal frameworks.

Police Brutality, Human rights Violations, Public support, Judicial Oversight, Accountability.

"POLICING IN INDIA: EXPLORING THE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AND EFFICACY OF ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no.283-299, March-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGT06023.pdf

"POLICING IN INDIA: EXPLORING THE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AND EFFICACY OF ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no. pp283-299, March-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRGT06023.pdf