NHRC accepts Bharti's request for a hearing

National Human Rights Commission today accepted former Delhi minister and AAP leader Somnath Bharthi's request for hearing in the controversial midnight raid in Khirki Extension area in south Delhi in January.
According to an official statement released here, the commission said that it had allowed the request of Somnath Bharti to be heard in the matter related to human rights violation of some African women nationals in Khirki Extension area on the intervening night of January 15 and 16.
The Commission has fixed the date of hearing on January 13, 2015.
It has also directed the Delhi Government to defer payment of monetary relief to victims, recommended by it on September 29, for a period of two months.

On September 29, NHRC had directed Delhi Government to pay Rs 25,000 each to 12 African women involved in the case.
NHRC had also observed that the women were "abused racially" and the then Law Minister, prima facie, violated the provisions of law while holding the Constitutional post.
"The Commission has recommended monetary relief of Rs 25 thousand each to twelve African national women, victims of racial prejudice and unlawful acts by Somnath Bharti, the then Law Minister of the Government of NCT of Delhi, with his supporters at Khirki Extension in Delhi in the intervening night of January 15 and 16," an official NHRC statement had said.

The Commission viewed that human rights of the African women were violated and hence it was a fit case for award of monetary relief.