The Commission has called for a factual report and comments from Chief Secretary, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Deputy Commissioner (South), Delhi and Director of Estates, Govt. of India, on a story, which appeared in a supplement of a national daily, dated 4 September 2004, under the heading "The Forbidden Park". The news story relates to the Government officers colony 'Nivedita Kunj' at R.K.Puram in New Delhi and stated that the servants and their family members who occupy the quarters adjacent to the officer's apartments are banned from entering the park. This is a rule made by the residents association to safeguard their own interests, it reported.
The Commission has observed that contents of the article, if true and correct, present a very distressing picture, as what is revealed in the article is gross discrimination being practiced by senior government officials between "haves" and "have-nots". It brings to fore a gross violation of Human Rights of the citizens. Government officials are expected to honour the constitutional mandate of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and other provisions, which prohibit discrimination on grounds of "caste", "class" and the like. It appears from the article that the park, the use of which the "have-nots" have been precluded, belongs to the Government of India and is not the private property of anybody.
The Commission has directed that the reports be submitted within three weeks.