HC asks cops to reply on PIL over deaths in police recruitment

The Bombay High Court today directed Maharashtra DGP Sanjeev Dayal and Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria to file replies to a PIL seeking a stay on the police recruitment drive following the death of four candidates while taking the physical test recently.
The direction was given by a bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah on a PIL filed by All Maharashtra Human Rights Welfare Association.
The PIL also sought compensation to the families of candidates who had died and also to those who fell ill while performing the physical tests conducted by the government.
A letter written by the Association to the high court was converted into a suo motu (on its own) PIL.

The letter had prayed for a stay on the recruitment drive, issuance of guidelines by the state to monitor the recruitment process, formation of a committee to supervise the procedure and award of compensation to the family of the deceased.
The letter said the government had failed to provide basic facilities like water, food, toilets and shelter to the candidates who had to sleep in open spaces. In many centres due to the small size of the grounds, the test was being held on public roads, the letter alleged.
In a related development, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission had last week directed the state to conduct an inquiry within three weeks into the death of the four candidates, who died while taking physical endurance test.

The SHRC had also asked the state government to bear the hospitalisation expenses of few other candidates who were hospitalised due to fatigue after running in scorching heat during the test.