New Delhi, December 14th, 2011

The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Bihar Government to pay rupees three lakhs as monetary relief to the next of kin of Gopal Raut, an undertrial prisoner who died due to negligence of prison authorities of Divisional Jail, Sitamarhi on the 17th July, 2009.

The Commission on the basis of the post-mortem and magisterial inquiry reports concluded that the contention of the Bihar Government that there was no medical negligence in the treatment of Gopal Raut in response to the show cause notice does not inspire confidence. The Commission has said that the material on record did not reveal any illness or injury in the health screening record of Gopal Raut. The Magisterial inquiry report had concluded that there was negligence on the part of the jail administration behind his death. Therefore, the State Government pay rupees three lakhs as monetary relief to the next of kin of the deceased undertrial prisoner who was lodged in the jail on the 7th January, 2009 under NDPS Act. The Commission has also asked for a compliance report along with a proof of payment within six weeks.


*****