New Delhi, 24th July, 2013

Taking suo motu cognizance, the National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Government of Bihar through its Chief Secretary and DGP calling for reports on two news items that 50 students fell ill in Madhubani after consuming mid-day meal and that 26 children, victims of the mid-day meal tragedy of Saran District, were battling for life at the Patna Medical College & Hospital, due to lack of proper facilities. They have been given four weeks time to respond.

The Commission had issued notices to the Principal Secretary (Education) and Superintendent of Police on the 17th July, 2013 in the incident of Saran District, in which, the reports are still awaited.

The Commission has specifically asked the State Chief Secretary and the DGP to inform about the following:

a) Legal action, if any, taken in the matters;
b) Compensation, if any, proposed to be granted to the victims or the next of kin of the deceased; and
c) Preventive measures taken by the State Government to avoid such incidents in future.

The Commission has also directed to link both these matters with the case No. 2467/4/32/2013 which was also registered suo motu on the incident of Saran District.

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