# Gopal Ch. Morigaon Man and Another v. State of Assam and Others

HTML version: [https://datalibertarian.in/babuwatch/incident/CW-2000-0002](https://datalibertarian.in/babuwatch/incident/CW-2000-0002)

## Report card

By judgment dated 17 February 2000 in Civil Rule Nos. 3809 and 4032 of 1994, the Gauhati High Court (Coram: D.N. Chowdhury, J.) returned findings adverse to the Nakhyatra Bora (Sub-Inspector), and directed payment of compensation of Rs 5.3 lakh (Rs 5,30,000).

- Register number: AS 21 CW 0001
- Case reference: Civil Rule Nos. 3809 and 4032 of 1994 / (2000) 1 GLT 643
- Court and date: Gauhati High Court (Coram: D.N. Chowdhury, J.), 17 February 2000
- Officer(s) at the material time: Nakhyatra Bora (Sub-Inspector)
- Present service status: Not ascertained from the cited sources.
- Provisions invoked: Article 21 of the Constitution of India
- Finding of the Court (extract): “Both of them died in Police custody in defiance of the law of the land. In both the cases there is unconstitutional deprivation of personal liberty and life.” (at para 23)
- Verdict, sentence and quantum: Adverse finding + compensation. Sentence: compensation only. Compensation: Rs 5.3 lakh (Rs 5,30,000).
- Present status of the proceedings: No further proceedings are recorded in the cited sources; the judgment is the concluded position shown.
- Source orders: [Judgment / order (primary source)](https://www.courtkutchehry.com/judgements/419319/gopal-ch-sarmah-and-another-vs-state-of-assam-and-others/); [Permanent link to this record](https://datalibertarian.in/babuwatch/incident/CW-2000-0002)

**Record:** CW-2000-0002 (compiler id CWC-0029); case SWFAKEEN-014; aliases: CWC-1454
**Title:** Gopal Ch. Morigaon Man and Another v. State of Assam and Others
**Court:** Gauhati High Court; judges: D.N. Chowdhury
**Case number / citation:** Civil Rule Nos. 3809 and 4032 of 1994 / (2000) 1 GLT 643
**Judgment:** 2000-02-17 (2000, day precision)
**Incident date:** 1994-08-06 (1994)
**Place:** Morigaon, Assam; city town: Morigaon; police station or unit: Morigaon Police Station; force: state_police
**Category:** Violence & unlawful detention
**Sub-category:** fake encounter extrajudicial killing
**Outcome:** Adverse finding + compensation (adverse_finding_compensation)
**Sections:** Constitution Art. 21
**Officers (gated display forms):** Nakhyatra Bora (Sub-Inspector) (1 in record)
**Victims:** Morigaon man, age 24; Morigaon man, age 40 (2 in record)
**Sentence / compensation:** compensation only; Rs 5.3 lakh (Rs 5,30,000)
**Sentence type:** compensation only (compensation_only)

The judgment of the Gauhati High Court records the following account. College student a Morigaon man (24) was picked up from his Morigaon home on 6 August 1994 by a team including SI Nakhyatra Bora with SULFA members and CRPF, seen in the Morigaon lockup, then shot dead at point-blank range in a staged encounter at Mayengia village. Separately, office assistant a Morigaon man died of custodial torture injuries including a fractured femur, which police falsely ascribed to a fall. Accepting District Judge inquiry reports and medical evidence, the Gauhati High Court held both men died in police custody in defiance of the law of the land and rejected the encounter and accidental-fall versions. It awarded Rs.2,50,000 plus Rs.15,000 costs to each family, payable within six months, leaving the State free to proceed against and recover from the erring officers. Matters not addressed in the cited judgment text are not recorded here.

> Both of them died in Police custody in defiance of the law of the land. In both the cases there is unconstitutional deprivation of personal liberty and life.

**Sources (3):** [courtkutchehry.com](https://www.courtkutchehry.com/judgements/419319/gopal-ch-sarmah-and-another-vs-state-of-assam-and-others/); [casemine.com](https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/56eaab5a607dba3c8ce400c3); [courtkutchehry.com](https://www.courtkutchehry.com/judgements/419319/gopal-ch-sarmah-and-another-appellant-hash-state-of-assam-and-others-respondent/)
**Verification:** V2 · Externally reported
**Review:** Solo Staff combined review (one combined attestation) — not yet recorded
**admin category:** brutality
**admin subcategory:** fake_encounter_extrajudicial_killing
**allegations:** {'category': 'Other', 'primary': True, 'position': 'Material fact supported', 'position_explainer': 'Reliable material supports a specifically documented fact relevant to that allegation, not necessarily the full allegation, causation, intent, unlawfulness, or responsibility.', 'official_finding_relation': 'supports allegation'}
**anonymised:** False
**court quote para:** 23
**display title redacted:** Gopal Ch. Morigaon Man and Another v. State of Assam and Others
**followup status:** never_checked
**institutional response:** {'date': '2000-02-17', 'action_type': 'Order issued', 'status': 'Concluded', 'authority': 'Gauhati High Court', 'independence': 'External', 'legal_effect': 'Binding', 'description': 'The Gauhati High Court recorded adverse findings against police personnel and ordered Rs 530,000.', 'disposition': 'Compensation ordered · Supports allegation (for the compensated wrong only)', 'source': '(2000) 1 GLT 643', 'recheck': 'Not yet re-checked.'}
**link checked per url:** {'url': 'https://www.courtkutchehry.com/judgements/419319/gopal-ch-sarmah-and-another-vs-state-of-assam-and-others/', 'link_checked': None}; {'url': 'https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/56eaab5a607dba3c8ce400c3', 'link_checked': None}; {'url': 'https://www.courtkutchehry.com/judgements/419319/gopal-ch-sarmah-and-another-appellant-hash-state-of-assam-and-others-respondent/', 'link_checked': None}
**retracted:** {"is_retracted": false}
**service:** police
**source assessment:** {"established": null, "basis": null}
**status:** current
**subcategory display:** fake encounter extrajudicial killing
**tier:** Tier A — Externally reported or officially recorded
**tier badge:** Externally reported
**tier history:** Tier A — Externally reported or officially recorded
**verdict:** accept
**verdict note:** Gauhati HC held both men died in police custody; Rs.2.5L + costs to each family confirmed in text.
**verification badge:** V2 · Externally reported
**verification status:** V2
**watch:** babuwatch

Status: Adverse finding + compensation.

[Open CW-2000-0002](https://datalibertarian.in/babuwatch/incident/CW-2000-0002)