Nhrc

KIIT suicide case: NHRC team meets Odisha Police, continues probe

An NHRC team, which is probing into the death of a 20-year-old Nepalese girl student at the KIIT University here, has met senior police officers of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack commissionerate, officials said. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team began its inquiry into the incident on Thursday, and would continue the exercise on Friday, they said. During the day, they could meet senior KIIT officials and its founder Achyuta Samanta, the officials said. We have met the NHRC team at the state guest house and gave all pertinent information to them. A liaison officer has been specifically assigned to support and facilitate the ongoing investigation by the rights panel, Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh told reporters here. He along with Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena met the rights panel representatives on Thursday night. They have offered all cooperation to the NHRC team members and apprised them of the situation, under which the girl allegedly died by suicide, another ...

KIIT University suicide case: NHRC orders probe, seeks report by March 10

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has ordered an on-spot inquiry into the death of a Nepalese girl student at KIIT University in Odisha and asked its officials to submit a report by March 10. The NHRC issued the order while acting on a complaint that 20-year-old Prakriti Lamsal died allegedly by suicide in her hostel room on February 16. The commission said that the investigation should be held in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the commission directs the Registrar (Law) to proceed for an inquiry in KIIT University, Bhubaneswar to conduct an on-spot inquiry along with a team consisting of two officers from the investigation division, one not below the rank of SSP and one officer/official from Law Division, and submit its inquiry report to the Commission by 10th March, 2025, the NHRC order said. Complainant Ashutosh B, in his petition, alleged that Lamsal, a Nepalese student at Kalinga .

NHRC admits petition on 'mysterious' deaths of 17 people in J&K's Rajouri

The NHRC has admitted a petition filed by a Jammu-based RTI activist over the mysterious deaths of 17 people from three Scheduled Tribe families in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district during the past one-and-a-half months. In his petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Raman Sharma sought the statutory body's intervention to ensure "justice, relief and proactive measures to safeguard the rights and dignity of citizens in vulnerable areas". Seventeen people, including 13 children, died under mysterious circumstances in Badhaal village between December 7 and January 19. The patients complained of fever, pain, intense sweating, nausea and loss of consciousness before dying within days of their admission to hospitals. Investigations and samples collected empirically indicated the incidents were not due to a communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin and that there was no public health angle, prompting police to set up a Special Investigation

NHRC launches new probe into discriminatory hiring at Foxconn's India plant

Foxconn, which manufactures iPhones in India, was accused of excluding married women from assembly line jobs at its Tamil Nadu plant

'Flawed and predetermined': Congress objects NHRC chairperson appointment

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the appointment process for the chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is 'flawed'

Former SC judge V Ramasubramanian appointed new chairperson of NHRC

Former Supreme Court judge V Ramasubramanian has been appointed the new chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, the rights panel said on Monday. The post of NHRC chairperson had been lying vacant since Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed his tenure on June 1. Mishra served as the eighth chairperson of the rights panel and was appointed to its top post in June 2021. On December 18, a high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to select the next chairperson of the NHRC, sources earlier said. A former chief justice of India or a retired judge of the top court are appointed as NHRC chairperson by the president on the recommendation of the selection committee. Justice (retd) Ramasubramanian, a former judge of the apex court, has been appointed the chairperson of the NHRC, a senior official said, adding "the NHRC received the communication about the appointment today". Former CJIs H L Dattu and K G Balakrishnan are among those who have

PM-led panel meets to select new NHRC chair; Kharge, Rahul attend

A high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met here on Wednesday to select the next chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), sources said. They also said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi attended the meeting as leaders of the opposition (LoPs) in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively. The sources said the two LoPs are likely to submit a dissent note on the selection process, as the names were not shared with them in advance. The post of NHRC chairperson has been lying vacant since Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed his tenure on June 1. A former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mishra served as the eighth chairperson of the rights panel and was appointed to its top post in June 2021. According to the law governing NHRC, while the committee which selects the NHRC chief is headed by the prime minister, it has the Lok Sabha Speaker, home minister, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, leader of opposition in

NHRC issues notice to UP govt, DGP over newborns' death in Jhansi fire

The NHRC on Saturday said it has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state's police chief in connection with a fire at the children's ward of a medical college in Jhansi that claimed the lives of 10 newborns. Describing reports of the incident as "disturbing", the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report within a week. The commission observed that the contents of the reports are "indeed disturbing and indicate negligence" resulting in a "grave violation" of the human rights of the victims as they were in the care of a government institution. In a statement, the NHRC said it has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that at least 10 newborns died in the fire that broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College on Friday night. Sixteen babies suffered injuries in the incident, while 37 were rescued safely. Reportedly, police authorities have confirmed that the fire was caused by an ...

NHRC notice to Delhi govt over boy's death after falling in open drain

The NHRC on Thursday said it has issued notices to the Delhi government, the city police chief, the DDA and the MCD over reports that a five-year-old boy died allegedly after falling into an open drain in Alipur area. This is the fifth such incident in the national capital in the recent past, the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement. The human rights panel has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a five-year-old boy died after falling into an open drain in the Alipur area of northwest Delhi on October 7, it said. The contractor, who worked there, had reportedly left the drain open at various places without placing any warning signs, the statement said. The NHRC has observed the contents of the news report about this case and similar incidents in the recent past, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims due to apparent negligence of the civic authorities. It is indeed very concerning that such incidents indicating ..

NHRC issues notice to Kolkata Police chief over force used during protests

The National Human Rights commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Kolkata Police commissioner over the alleged use of excessive and brutal force on August 27 on protesters, who were demonstrating to demand justice for the victim in the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case. The NHRC has sought an action-taken report from the police commissioner in two weeks. The notice was issued on Thursday following a complaint from one O P Vyas from the Bharatiya Human Rights Initiative (BHIM). In his complaint, Vyas has alleged that on August 27, during the "Nabanna Abhijan" protests in Kolkata organised by students demanding justice in the RG Kar Medical College case, "police used excessive and brutal force" on the protesters during their peaceful demonstration. "Over 200 students were arrested and subjected to brutal physical assaults, many sustaining serious injuries. This action violated their right to peaceful assembly and reflected a grave disregard for human rights. The complainan

NHRC notice to Delhi, Haryana, UP over deaths by drowning, electrocution

The NHRC on Saturday said it has issued notices to the Delhi government, vice chairman of the DDA and Haryana and Uttar Pradesh authorities in connection with reported incidents of drowning and electrocution in Delhi and neighbouring cities in which several lives have been lost. The reported incidents, as in the recent past, are indicative of the "negligence by the civic authorities, which is a matter of concern", it said in a statement. The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that at least 13 lives were lost in Delhi-NCR including six due to electrocution and four due to drowning after falling into overflowing drains amid heavy rain "magnifying the creaky infrastructure and civic negligence", the rights panel said. Recently, the Commission had also taken suo motu cognisance of two news reports revealing a painful loss of human lives due to drowning and electrocution in the national capital indicating negligence of the authorities, the statement said. The Commissi

NHRC issues notice to health ministry, Delhi govt over shooting at hospital

The NHRC on Thursday said it has issued notices to the Union health ministry, the Delhi government and the city's police commissioner in connection with the incident of a patient being shot dead inside a hospital here. Issuing the notices, the National Human Rights Commission observed that apart from the medical treatment of the patients, their safety is also a crucial aspect to be looked into by the administration of the government hospitals. In a statement, the rights panel said it has taken "suo motu cognisance of a media report that a patient was shot dead by assailants inside a ward of the GTB Hospital at Dilshad Garden, Delhi on July 14". According to the media report, carried on July 15, anyone can enter the hospital wards without any restrictions. The security guards do not pay any attention towards the safety and security of patients, the statement said. "Those coming inside the hospital to meet patients are never checked by the security staff. There is no provision of ...

NHRC advisory on begging recommends nationwide database, rehabilitation

Building a nationwide database and drafting a national policy for protection and rehabilitation of individuals engaged in begging are among the recommendations of an NHRC advisory issued on Friday. The advisory was issued to the Centre and state governments to develop strategies aimed at eliminating the need for begging and enhancing the quality of life for those involved in it, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement. It noted that despite a number of initiatives and welfare programmes implemented by the central and state governments, begging persisted across the country. According to the 2011 census, there were more than 4,13,000 (4.13 lakh) beggars and vagrants in India, it said. In its recommendations, the NHRC asked the authorities to draft a national policy for the protection and rehabilitation of individuals involved in begging to prepare and implement welfare schemes for them with targeted financial assistance, vocational training, poverty alleviatio

NHRC notice to WB, DGP over 'public flogging' of couple in Uttar Dinajpur

The NHRC said on Monday that it has issued notices to the West Bengal government and the state's police chief over reports that a couple was allegedly mercilessly beaten up in a village in Uttar Dinajpur district in full public view by a group of people. The main perpetrator is allegedly associated with "the political party in power in West Bengal" and could be seen in a viral video, severely beating up the couple surrounded by a group of people, as spectators, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement. The media report also quoted a video of the incident on social media, it added. The rights panel, looking into the gravity of the issue, has also asked its Director General (Investigation) to "immediately constitute and send a team, headed by an officer, not below the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police, to visit the place of the incident to conduct an on-the-spot fact-finding inquiry in the matter and to submit a report to the Commission, at the earliest,"

NHRC notice to Centre, TN over 'discrimination' by Foxconn in jobs

The NHRC on Monday said it has issued notices to the Union Labour Ministry and the Tamil Nadu government over reports that a major manufacturer of electronic devices has allegedly "systematically excluded" married women from jobs at its assembly plant in Sriperumbudur. Issuing the notices, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has noted the fact that gender equality is not only required in the Indian Constitution but the international treaty and covenants, viz., International Covenant Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights also provide non-discrimination on the ground of gender in any form of employment. The NHRC has taken "suo motu cognisance of media reports that Foxconn, a major manufacturer of Apple devices has systematically excluded married women from job at its iPhone assembly plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu", it said. It is alleged by a former HR executive at Foxconn that "verbal directions" have been give

NHRC issues notice TN govt over gender discrimination in Foxconn hiring

NHRC has taken suo-motu cognizance of media reports that Foxconn, a major manufacturer of Apple devices, has systematically excluded married women from jobs at its iPhone assembly plant in Sriperu

NHRC notice to Centre over 'anti-labour practices' at MNC campus in Haryana

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Centre over reported "anti-labour practices" at one of the warehouses of a multinational company in Haryana's Manesar, officials on Wednesday said. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has observed that the content of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights of the workers in violation of the labour laws and the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment from time to time. The NHRC in a statement said that it has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that at one of the warehouses of a multi-national company in Haryana's Manesar "a 24-year-old worker was asked to pledge that they would not take toilet or water breaks until they finished unloading packages from six trucks, each measuring 24 feet long, after their team's 30-minute tea break had ended". "A female employee at the Manesar warehouse reportedly stated that no restroom facilities are available on the working sites," it ...

HC satisfied with CBI probe in Sandeshkhali, allows NHRC to be party

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the progress of the CBI's probe into allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. The court permitted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to be added as a party to the case, following its application. Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, along with Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, reviewed the CBI's report and granted the agency's request to keep the details confidential. The court had on April 10 directed the CBI to probe the allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali and directed it to file a progress report on Thursday. The court, which is monitoring the investigation, had also directed the central agency to probe alleged illegal conversion of agricultural land into waterbodies for pisciculture after conducting a thorough inspection of revenue records and physical inspection of land alleged to have been converted. Holding that its presence will assi

Number of advanced forensic labs needs to be augmented, says NHRC

The number of technologically advanced forensic laboratories in India needs to be "augmented for expeditious examination", the NHRC said on Wednesday. Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra, during a core group meeting here also said that investigation and forensics examination should be part of the process and "not independent" of each other. The NHRC on Wednesday organised a core group meeting on criminal justice system reforms, the rights panel said in a statement. The focus was on finding ways to address delay in forensic reports, areas of improvement in the prosecution system, and simplification of language used in organs of criminal justice system. During the discussions, it was emphasised that public prosecutors play a very important role at the trial stage and therefore, it is necessary to create a "cadre-based service" of public prosecutors to ensure transparency and merit in their appointment, the statement said. A training academ

Freebies announced during elections a matter of concern: NHRC chief

General announcement of "freebies" during the elections must be "pondered" as to whether it furthers directive principles or thwarts their objectives, NHRC chairperson Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra said on Tuesday. Mishra said this in his address during an event here. He also said the constitutional mandate is to form a uniform civil code, which is "necessary to abolish discrimination" against women. Women are provided safety, security and dignity in the workplace, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chief was quoted as saying in a statement. "To empower women, we have to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women on the grounds of gender, particularly in respect of education, employment, inheritance and property. World over, women are discriminated against for civil rights, and there is a necessity for a standard civil code to make men and women equal by clearly defining the parameters of gender equality. Women must enjoy social equality, improved status and ...