NHRC notice to Bihar over mid-day meal deaths

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has given four weeks time to the officials to submit reports

Bewailing family members of mid-day meal victims in Chapra, Bihar

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Bihar government as well as the state police over the death of 23 schoolchildren who consumed contaminated mid-day meal, an official said Wednesday.

Taking suo-motu cognizance of media reports, the commission has given four weeks time to the officials to submit reports, he said.

"The commission has observed that the contents of the press reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of rights to food of the deceased," said the NHRC official in a statement.

"(we have) issued notices to the principal secretary (education), government of Bihar, and superintendent of police, Saran, calling for reports in the matter within four weeks," the statement said.

The in Dandaman village in Saran, about 100 km from Patna, have sparked street protests in Bihar while at least 10 more students were battling for life in a Patna hospital.