NHRC notice to Centre, states over pollution faced by traffic cops

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notice to Union home Secretary and Chief Secretaries of all states and United territories over lack of health facilities to traffic police personnel in view of high air pollution.

The commission also sought reply within eight weeks.

"The NHRC has taken cognisance of a complaint raising the issue of right to health of traffic police personnel across the country. Allegedly, the high air pollution is causing reduced life expectancy among them as the vehicular pollution affects their respiratory and reproductive system," the commission said in a statement.

The statement further noted that "The commission has issued the notices to the union home secretary and chief secretaries of all states and union territories and sought their detailed responses within eight weeks, positively. Most of the state governments are not providing any extra allowances or health facilities to the traffic police personnel".

"In case, the response is not received within the stipulated time, the commission shall be constrained to invoke coercive process under section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993," the NHRC said.