T he National Human Rights Commission, NHRC organized three days' 'Open Hearing and Camp Sitting' at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from the 9th - 11th August, 2017. Inaugurating it, Justice Shri Pinaki Chandra Ghose, Member, NHRC emphasized that human rights
were not static in nature and a change in the mindsets was required for amelioration of the sufferings of people.
In the 'Open Hearing' on the complaints of atrocities against the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the Commission took up 171 cases. These were heard in four benches by Members, Justice Shri P.C. Ghose, Justice Shri D. Murugesan, Shri S.C. Sinha and Smt. Jyotika Kalra.
42 cases were closed after consideration of reports. In six cases, the Commission issued notices to the Government of Uttar Pradesh on account of delay in registration of First Information Reports, FIRs. In some cases, monetary relief of Rs. 2,47,500/-, admissible under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes (Protection of Atrocities) Act, was paid after intervention by the Commission. In other cases, further reports or comments of the complainants have been called for on the reports sent by the Government authorities.
In the Camp Sitting, the Full Commission took up 16 important cases. These included the cases of missing children, deaths in jails, delay in registration of FIRs, denial of treatment to mentally ill patients from Uttarakhand in the mental hospitals of Uttar Pradesh.
In the sittings of the two Division Benches, 67 cases were considered. In five cases, monetary relief of Rs. 21 lakhs was recommended. 25 cases were closed on receipt of proof of payment of Rs. 93,00,000/- to the next of kin of deceased persons. In 15 cases, sanction of monetary relief amounting to Rs. 64,50,000/- was received. Seven of these cases were closed in the light of the assurance given by the State Home Secretary for expeditious release of payments. In other cases, further reports have been called for.
After the disposal of the cases, the Commission held an interaction with the NGOs. They raised a gamut of issues of human rights violations, these included rights of destitute/disabled women and children as well as mentally sick persons on road, denial of admission to children on ground of disability, victims of human trafficking being sent to jails as accused and not to Reform Homes, absence of psychiatrists/psychologists in various district hospitals, deaths while cleaning sewage, non-payment of salary to manual scavengers and absence of scheme for compensation.
The representatives of the NGOs also invited attention of the Commission towards non-issuance of ration cards, thefts in the food grain stocks issued under Public Distribution System, PDS food stock issued under Integrated Child Development Scheme, ICDS not reaching the district. The issues of absence of doctors at Public Health Centres, PHCs, non-availability of teachers in schools, teachers not attending classes and absence of toilet facilities for school children were also raised.
This meeting was followed by discussions with the Chief Secretary, DGP, DMs, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers of the State. During the discussions, the issues raised by the NGOs were also taken up. The Commission expressed its concern, particularly, over the delay and non-registration of FIRs in cases involving atrocities on Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in violation of section 4 of the Act. It was pointed out to the police officers that non-registration of an FIR in a case involving sexual exploitation of a woman attracted section 166 A of Indian Penal Code, IPC.
The Commission also expressed concern over arsenic poising in some districts of the State, death due to Japanese encephalitis, manual scavenging, speedy disposal of compensation in cases of electrocution deaths and denial of basic amenities, including ration cards, houses, drinking water and electricity in certain blocks of Chandauli district, inhabited by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The State Government assured the Commission that it would look into the issues to ensure better protection of human rights.