SUO MOTU COGNIZANCE
The Commission took suo motu cognizance in three cases of alleged human rights violation during April, 2011 and issued notices to the concerned authorities calling for their reports in the matter. Summaries of these cases are as follows:
Child labour in illegal coal mines of Jharkhand
(Case No.389/34/11/2011)
The media carried a report on the 5th April, 2011, alleging that a large number of children below 14 years of age are working in illegal coal mines, built unscientifically in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand. These mines are manned mostly by children from Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Assam. The families of those killed in accidents in these mines never get any compensation as deaths are not recorded. There are no facilities for clean drinking water and health in the area and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has also not been extended to the Hazaribagh district.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the media report, the Commission on the 6th April, 2011 directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand to submit a report, including the status on the following issues:
a) How many coal mines - legal or illegal - are functional in Hazaribagh district and its adjoining areas?
b) What steps have been taken by the State Government for stopping illegal coal mines?
c) What safeguards have been provided to the workers working in legal/ and or illegal coal mines?
d) Whether there is any scheme of the State Government, which ensures health safety of the workers.
e) Whether Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been extended to Hazaribagh district. If so, the number of beneficiaries.
f) What steps have been taken by the State Government to prohibit child labour in coal mines?
g) Whether there are enough schools in the Hazaribagh district and adjoining areas for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years. If not, what steps are being taken by the State Government under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
Bonded labourers
(Case No.12378/24/6/2011)
The National Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognizance of a news story telecast on a channel alleging that bonded labourers are working in brick kilns in Domanpur village in district Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. The Commission directed its Director General (Investigation) to depute a team to look into the matter.
The television news story showed interviews of three labourers, who were being forced to work as bonded labourers to repay their debts. If they refused to work, they were abused and beaten. The news story also claimed that the labourers working in the brick kiln were not aware of the fact that the practice of bonded labour had already been abolished by the Government more than 30 years ago.
Abduction of a youth from a police post in NOIDA
(Case No. 14799/24/30/2011)
The media carried reports on the 26th April, 2011 alleging that goons abducted a 26 year old youth, Hemchand Sharma, from a police post in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh.
Considering the matter on the 27th April, 2011, the Commission observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raised serious issues of dereliction of duty on the part of the police officials, resulting in the violation of human rights of Hemchand Sharma. A notice was issued to the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a report in the matter.
Child labour in illegal coal mines of Jharkhand
(Case No.389/34/11/2011)
The media carried a report on the 5th April, 2011, alleging that a large number of children below 14 years of age are working in illegal coal mines, built unscientifically in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand. These mines are manned mostly by children from Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Assam. The families of those killed in accidents in these mines never get any compensation as deaths are not recorded. There are no facilities for clean drinking water and health in the area and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has also not been extended to the Hazaribagh district.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the media report, the Commission on the 6th April, 2011 directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand to submit a report, including the status on the following issues:
a) How many coal mines - legal or illegal - are functional in Hazaribagh district and its adjoining areas?
b) What steps have been taken by the State Government for stopping illegal coal mines?
c) What safeguards have been provided to the workers working in legal/ and or illegal coal mines?
d) Whether there is any scheme of the State Government, which ensures health safety of the workers.
e) Whether Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been extended to Hazaribagh district. If so, the number of beneficiaries.
f) What steps have been taken by the State Government to prohibit child labour in coal mines?
g) Whether there are enough schools in the Hazaribagh district and adjoining areas for children between the ages of 6 and 14 years. If not, what steps are being taken by the State Government under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
Bonded labourers
(Case No.12378/24/6/2011)
The National Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognizance of a news story telecast on a channel alleging that bonded labourers are working in brick kilns in Domanpur village in district Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. The Commission directed its Director General (Investigation) to depute a team to look into the matter.
The television news story showed interviews of three labourers, who were being forced to work as bonded labourers to repay their debts. If they refused to work, they were abused and beaten. The news story also claimed that the labourers working in the brick kiln were not aware of the fact that the practice of bonded labour had already been abolished by the Government more than 30 years ago.
Abduction of a youth from a police post in NOIDA
(Case No. 14799/24/30/2011)
The media carried reports on the 26th April, 2011 alleging that goons abducted a 26 year old youth, Hemchand Sharma, from a police post in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh.
Considering the matter on the 27th April, 2011, the Commission observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raised serious issues of dereliction of duty on the part of the police officials, resulting in the violation of human rights of Hemchand Sharma. A notice was issued to the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a report in the matter.