New Delhi: “Let no one have to repeat the tragic words like George Perry Floyd, Jr: ‘I can’t breathe’,” the Delhi high court on Monday said, holding that the law does not permit people to be beaten up in police custody or during interrogation as the punishment for a criminal act is to be determined by a court of law.The court was hearing a plea by two men who were allegedly illegally detained and beaten up by Delhi Police officials of police post Turkman Gate, police station Chandni Mahal, Central District. The plea sought a fair and time-bound inquiry against the errant officers.According to Live Law, the petitioners had alleged that the initial inquiry was conducted by the inspector (vigilance) and the matter was closed, as if nothing noteworthy or actionable happened. Therefore, they sought an inquiry by a senior police officer into the incident.The death of George Floyd, an African-American man, had drawn widespread protests in the US last year after a video showed a police officer pushing him down and pressing his knee on the neck of the hand-cuffed victim who was heard saying, “I can’t breathe”.Justice Najmi Waziri, who perused the photographs of the incident, said the assault by the police on the petitioners is questionable as the law does not permit people to be beaten up in police custody even during interrogation.“One can never be too vigilant about the rights of citizens being violated or any callousness or over-reaction by law enforcers which may lead to an unfortunate incident or tragedy. Let no one have to repeat the tragic last words like George Perry Floyd, Jr.: ‘I can’t breathe’,” the high court said.Punishment for an assault or a criminal act is to be determined by a court of law. The police cannot be a judge in its own cause. The law does not permit people to be beaten up in police custody or during interrogation, it said.The high court disposed of the pleas and directed that an inquiry be conducted by the deputy commissioner of police (vigilance). It also added that the petitions shall be treated as representation to the police.Also read: ‘Our Bodies Aren’t Battlegrounds’: Students Protest Against Delhi Police’s ‘Torture’ of ActivistsThe arguments in the caseAdvocate M. Sufian Siddiqui, representing the petitioners, argued that any form of torture, cruel or inhuman or degrading treatment would fall within Article 21 of the Constitution whether it occurs during investigation, interrogation or otherwise, and tantamount to a brazen attack on the very edifice of rule of law.The Delhi government counsel showed a video recording on a fracas outside the police station between private parties and argued that the police had rushed to prevent a serious incident which could have lead to a law and order situation, especially on the eve of the Republic Day function. The judge rejected the police submission, the Indian Express reported.After seeing the photographs and videos of the incident, the high court said that a fresh inquiry was warranted as the two men were seen to be “assaulted repeatedly by a posse of policemen who were in uniform and in civilian attire”.“The violent pushing, punching and elbow-strikes started the moment they enter into the precincts of the police station. The two civilians were not violent when they walked into the said precincts. They possibly could not because they were surrounded and held by policemen,” the court added.“For the physical assault and beating given to the private individuals, there appears no immediate provocation, perhaps it was because of some pique of the policemen,” it said.(With PTI inputs)