Supreme Court Guidelines On Encounter was issued in PUCL v. State of Maharashtra in the matters of investigating police encounters as the standard procedure for thorough, effective and independent investigation with a 16-point guideline in 2016.

Supreme Court Guidelines On Encounter which are as follows:

1. Whenever police recieves information regarding pertaining to grave criminal offence it should be recorded electronically or in case diary. Such recording need not reveal details of the suspect or the location to which the party is headed. If such intelligence is received by a higher authority, it may be noted in some form without revealing details
2. If pursuant to the tip-off or receipt of any intelligence, as above, encounter takes place and firearm is used by the police party and as a result of that, death occurs, an FIR to that effect shall be registered and the same shall be forwarded to the court under Section 157 of the Code without any delay. While forwarding the report under Section 157 of Crpc, the procedure prescribed under Section 158 of Crpc shall be followed.
3. An independent investigation of encounter shall be conducted by the CID or police team of another police station. the level of police office should be at least a level above the head of the police party engaged in the encounter.). The team conducting inquiry/investigation shall, at a minimum, seek::
   1. To identify the victim; colour photographs of the victim should be taken;
   2. To recover and preserve evidentiary material, including blood-stained earth, hair, fibers and threads, etc., related to the death;
   3. To identify scene witnesses with complete names, addresses and telephone numbers and obtain their statements concerning the death. the information of police personnel involved in encounter should also be obtained.
   4. To determine the cause, manner, location and time of death as well as any pattern or practice that may have brought about the death;
   5. It must be ensured that intact fingerprints of deceased are sent for chemical analysis. Any other fingerprints should be located, developed, lifted and sent for chemical analysis;
   6. Post-mortem must be conducted by two doctors in the District One of them should be incharge of the District Hospital. . Post-mortem shall be video- graphed and preserved;
   7. Any evidence of weapons, such as guns, projectiles, bullets and cartridge cases, should be taken and preserved. Wherever applicable, tests for gunshot residue and trace metal detection should be performed.
   8. The cause of death should be found out, whether it was natural death, accidental death, suicide or homicide.
4. A Magisterial inquiry under Section 176 of the Code must invariably be held in all cases of death which occur in the course of police firing. A report thereof must be sent to Judicial Magistrate having jurisdiction under Section 190 of the Code.
5. The involvement of NHRC is not necessary unless there is serious doubt about independent and impartial investigation. However, the information of the incident without any delay must be sent to NHRC or the State Human Rights Commission.
6. The injured criminal/victim should be provided medical aid. His/her statement recorded by the Magistrate or Medical Officer with certificate of fitness.
7. It should be ensured that there is no delay in sending FIR, diary entries, panchnamas, sketch to the concerned Court.
8. After a full investigation of the incident, report should be sent to the competent court under Section 173 of Crpc. . The trial, pursuant to the chargesheet submitted by the Investigating Officer, must be concluded expeditiously.
9. In the event of death, the next of kin of the alleged criminal/victim must be informed at the earliest.
10. Six monthly statements of all cases where deaths have occurred in police firing must be sent to NHRC by DGPs. It must be ensured that the six monthly statements reach to NHRC by 15th day of January and July, respectively. The statements may be sent in the following format along with post mortem, inquest and, wherever available, the inquiry reports:
    1. Date and place of occurrence.
    2. Police Station, District.
    3. Circumstances leading to deaths:
       1. Self defence in encounter.
       2. In the course of dispersal of unlawful assembly.
       3. In the course of affecting arrest.
       4. Brief facts of the incident.
    4. Criminal Case No.
    5. Investigating Agency.
    6. Findings of the Magisterial Inquiry/Inquiry by Senior Officers:
       1. disclosing, in particular, names and designation of police officials, if found responsible for the death; and
       2. whether use of force was justified and action taken was lawful.
11. If on the conclusion of investigation the materials/evidence having come on record show that death had occurred by use of firearm amounting to offence under the IPC, disciplinary action against such officer must be promptly initiated and he be placed under suspension.
12. As regards compensation to be granted to the dependants of the victim who suffered death in a police encounter. The scheme provided under Section 357-A of the Code must be applied.
13. The police officer(s) concerned must surrender his/her weapons for forensic and ballistic analysis, including any other material, as required by the investigating team, subject to the rights under Article 20 of the Constitution.
14. An intimation about the incident must also be sent to the police officer’s family. should the family need services of a lawyer / counselling, same must be offered.
15. An intimation about the incident must also be sent to the police officer’s family. should the family need services of a lawyer / counselling, same must be offered.
16. If the family of the victim finds that the above procedure has not been followed or there exists a pattern of abuse or lack of independent investigation or impartiality by any of the functionaries as above mentioned, it may make a complaint to the Sessions Judge having territorial jurisdiction over the place of incident. Upon such complaint being made, the concerned Sessions Judge shall look into the merits of the complaint and address the grievances raised therein.