Absence of a Standalone Anti-Torture Statute in India

In 1997, almost 30 years ago, India signed the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). Till date, India has not ratified it. In the interim, the country witnessed one Bill passed by a House of Parliament, a comprehensive Law Commission Report with a prepared draft statute, and a Supreme Court petition asking the judiciary to precipitate government action. Nevertheless, in 2026, India still lacks a dedicated anti-torture legislation. This is not a story of oversight. It happens to be a story of a law that, surprisingly, nobody in power has ever been forced to pass.