The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, held two-days Camp Sitting and Open Hearing at Ranchi, Jharkhand from 7th-8th September, 2016. In his inaugural address, the NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri H. L. Dattu expressed concern about human rights violation, oppression and discrimination of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He emphasized that the Commission is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights of vulnerable citizens of the country. Smt. Raj Bala Verma, Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand assured that the State government would comply with the recommendations of the Commission.
On the opening day, 15 cases were taken up in the sitting of Full Commission, presided over by Justice Shri H.L. Dattu and comprising the NHRC Members, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S. C. Sinha. Six cases were finally disposed of, including two cases in which relief of Rs. 9,00,000/- was paid as per the recommendations of the Commission.
During the Open Hearing, three single benches presided over by Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Justice Shri D.Murugesan and Shri S.C.Sinha took up 69 cases pertaining to the grievances of the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Out of the 69 cases, 27 cases were finally disposed of. In a number of cases, the complainants/victims were provided relief following the intervention of the Commission. These included cases of sanctioning of widow pension and old age pension, restoration of possession of land to the allottees etc.
On day two, in the two Division Benches, the Commission took up twelve cases of deaths/excesses in police action. Five cases were finally disposed of. These include three cases in which concerned authorities paid compensation of Rs. 41,00,000/- to the victims or their next of kin and injured persons. In a case of detention by police beyond 24 hours, the Commission recommended a compensation of Rs. 5,000/- each to 25 victims. The Commission also issued a notice in a case of accidental death in police firing to show cause why compensation of Rs. 2,00,000/- be not paid to the next of kin of the deceased.
In the matters taken up in the Camp Sitting, the Commission recommended a total monetary relief of
Rs. 3,25,000/- in three cases. Besides, the State Government reported that a total amount of Rs. 50,00,000/- had been paid as compensation including ex-gratia in five cases.
After sitting of the Division Benches, the Commission held an interaction with the representatives of NGOs. They raised the issues of growing menace of Bonded & Child Labour, rehabilitation of Children of parents who died of silicosis, non-inclusion of the workers in the ESIC, insistence of post-mortem for silicosis affected people, vocational training for Juveniles in conflict with law, trafficking of children/adults/girls to other States, identity of children living on footpaths, absence of Scheduled Tribes Commission in Jharkhand and rights of children with regard to mental retardation & disability.
Thereafter, the Commission met the Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretaries of various departments and other senior civil and police officers of the State. The issues raised by the NGOs were discussed. The Commission also took up the issues of silicosis, implementation of various welfare schemes e.g. Indira Awas Yojna, Mid-Day Meal, NRHM, ICDS, SSA, PDS, MGNREGA etc. Other issues taken up were of delay in submission of inquest, post mortem reports and magisterial enquiry in cases of encounter and custodial deaths, appointment of teachers and doctors, fluoride level in endemic districts. Later, the Chairperson met the media and shared the outcome of the two-day programme in Jharkhand.