Suo motu cognizance

The Commission took suo motu cognizance in 16 cases of alleged human rights violations during January, 2014 and issued notices to the concerned authorities for reports. Summaries of some of these cases are as follows:
Attacks on African nationals
(Case No. 252/30/8/2014)
The National Human Rights Commission stated that it condemned any act of discrimination against any caste, colour, race, sex etc., after the media reported attacks and the acts of discrimination against African nationals in the National Capital. Taking suo motu cognizance of the media reports in this regard, the Commission issued notices to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Chief Secretary, Government of NCT Delhi and Delhi Police Commissioner calling for reports with specific reference to the incidents happened in Khirki Extension area of South Delhi.
Scarcity of Shelter Homes and deaths of homeless persons
(Case Nos. 58/30/2/2014, 308/30/4/2014 & 1/30/0/2014)
The month of January, 2014 saw extensive coverage of the plight of homeless persons in Delhi. A report carried that about 1.5 lakh destitute persons were spending life on footpaths and over-bridges in Delhi either due to shortage of Shelter Homes or lack of facilities in the existing ones. In the meantime, there were reports about the deaths of homeless persons in different parts of the National Capital. One of the reports alleged that two homeless persons were found dead at a distance of 30 to 40 feet from each other near a Shelter Home in the Yamuna Pusta area on the 1st January, 2014. Another report, carried on the 19th January, 2014, stated that six persons died around Kashmere Gate in North Delhi. Further, a report said that due to the absence of night shelters, 12 homeless persons died during the last 24 hours.
The Commission thrice took cognizance of the issues raised in these reports during the month and issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and the Chief Executive Officer, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, Government of NCT of Delhi calling for reports. They have also been directed to inform the Commission about the steps taken to protect the poor homeless persons from cold.
Atrocities on women protesters
(Case No. 1541/24/28/2014)
The media reported that some police personnel were found kicking and lathi-charging women protestors in Ferozabad district, Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, the women and others were protesting against the death of two persons in an accident at Village Rajopura, Matsena, Ferozabad. A notice has been issued to the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a report in the matter.
Forced manual scavenging and police inaction
(Case No. 140/24/13/2014)
The media reported that some influential people of Village Adra, Police Station Badasarai, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh forced a dalit at gunpoint to do manual scavenging and the police, when approached, did not register the complaint of the victim under appropriate sections of the law. The Commission has issued notices to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh calling for a report in the matter.
13 child deaths in 19 days in a Government Hospital
(Case No. 3308/24/43/2014)
The media reported that 13 children died in 19 days at Child Hospital, Helot, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh due to lack of proper treatment and shortage of beds. However, no steps were taken by the hospital authorities to improve the situation. It was also reported that contrary to the claims of the Chief Minister that all types of medicines were available in the Government Hospitals for indoor patients, the attendants of the patients at the Child Hospital, Helot had to buy even syringes from outside. The Commission has issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh calling for report in the matter.
Death of a rape victim
(Case No. 14/25/15/2014-WC)
The media reported that a 16 year old girl succumbed to her burn injuries after she was set on fire allegedly by the goons who gang raped her twice in Kolkata, West Bengal as her family refused to withdraw the complaint lodged against them with the police. After her death, the local police hurried for cremation instead of handing over the body to her family. The father of the deceased had also filed a complaint against the Medical Superintendent of R.G. Kar Hospital, Kolkata alleging negligence in her daughter's treatment. The Commission has issued notice to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, West Bengal calling for a report in the matter.
Recovery of 9 dead bodies
(Case No. 2/17/1/2014)
The media reported that highly decomposed nine dead bodies covered in polythene sheets were found in a gorge in Dimapur district of Nagaland bordering Assam. Reportedly, the persons were blindfolded with their hands tied and then shot dead from close range. One of the bodies had been identified to be of a missing Karbi student leader from Bokajan, a town in the trouble torn Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Eight bodies were yet to be identified. The Commission has issued notices to the Director Generals of Police, Nagaland and Assam and also to the SP, Dimapur calling for reports.
Non-payment of wages under MGNREGA
(Case No. 1/13/4/2014)
The media reported that seven families across Maharashtra and Jharkhand lost their members due to delayed payments under the MGNREGA scheme. Reportedly, 27 lakh labourers in West Bengal, 18.20 lakh in Bihar, 13.40 lakh in Kerala, 11 lakh in Rajasthan and 8.7 lakh in Andhra Pradesh were still waiting for their wages under the MGNREGA. The Commission has issued notices to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Chief Secretaries of the Governments of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh calling reports in the matter.
Bonded labourers tortured
(Case No. 9/8/4/2014-BL)
The media reported that some labourers from Jashpur, Chhattisgarh were kept as bonded labourers in Jawali, district, Kangra Himachal Pradesh. They were also beaten-up in the captivity. The Commission has issued notices to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh calling for reports in the matter.
A child labour assaulted
(Case No. 30/10/11/2014-CL)
The media reported that a brick kiln owner in District Gulbarga, Karnataka assaulted a child labourer with an iron rod so severely that he was in danger of losing his left hand. The 12 year old child labourer hailed from District Bolangir, Odisha. The report also highlighted that due to lack of effective action by the State authorities migrant labourers from Odisha in Karnataka continued to suffer into the hands of touts and brick kiln owners. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Government of Karnataka and Odisha calling for reports.