Probe kids' travel in unreserved train coaches: NHRC

The National Human Right Commission Friday asked the ministry of human resource development (HRD) and Kendriya Vidyala Sangathan (KVS) to start an inquiry into reports that children bound for a sports meet in Ahmedabad were allegedly made to travel in an unreserved compartment of a train.

"In the reports, submitted in response to the commission's notices, the authorities have said that travel arrangements for more than 4,734 participants and escorting teachers were made and almost all of them travelled on confirmed tickets safely and comfortably," the statement said.

"However, there was some contradiction in the reports of the KVS and the Human Resource Development Ministry on the number of travellers not having confirmed tickets," it added.

The NHRC issued notices to the HRD ministry and KVS after a complaint Oct 15 that children travelled like cattle in an unreserved railway compartment for a sports meet in Ahmedabad.

NHRC member Justice D. Murugesan has also asked the HRD ministry and KVS authorities to start an inquiry in the matter and submit an action taken report within six weeks.

Earlier, a complaint was lodged by a parent that the children were packed off like cattle in sleeper coaches without reservation. He added that even their return tickets were not confirmed.