NHRC awards Rs. 5 lakhs compensation to victim of police atrocity in Uttar Pradesh

The National Human Rights Commission has awarded Rs. 5 lakhs as ‘immediate interim relief’ to Ms. Usha Kiran Vajpayee, a victim of gross violation of human rights which had resulted in the amputation of her leg, rendering her permanently disabled for life.

The Commission had taken cognizance of this complaint referred to it by Justice Ranganath Misra, MP and Chairman of Human Rights Department, AICC. According to the complaint received, Ms. Usha Kiran Vajpayee was administering polio drops to the children on 10 December 2000 in Chilli village of Uttar Pradesh during the Pulse Polio campaign of the Government. Four Police Sepoys who were drunk came to the Centre where Ms. Vajpayee was working and started misbehaving with her. Upon her objection, one of the Sepoys manhandled her and started abusing. Abandoning her duty when she fled towards her home, the Sepoys fired at her and she was hit in her leg. Upon hearing the indiscriminating firing, villagers came out and were able to round up the Sepoys.

Due to the bullet injury received, one leg of Ms. Vajpayee had to be amputated. While one of the Sepoys was sent to jail, the others were suspended after departmental inquiry. Pursuant to the direction of the Commission, the UP police informed that the investigation in this matter was being conducted by the District Police and charge-sheets had been filed against the accused. Taking note of this report, the Commission observed that the injury resulting the amputation of one of the legs of the victim required consideration for the grant of immediate interim relief under section 18(3) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Accordingly, a show-cause notice was issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of UP. Inspite of the show-cause notice, no reply was received from the UP Government. After waiting for five months, the Commission felt that obviously the Government of UP had no cause to show against the award of immediate interim relief to the victim.

The Commission held that the facts of this case disclosed gross violation of human rights resulting in amputation of a leg of the victim. She was nearly 37 years of age at the time of the incident. As a result of the amputation of one of her leg, she now has to contend with a permanent disability for life. The circumstances in which the victim was made to flee to save herself from the clutches of the delinquent public servants, are also significant in the context. The Commission, therefore, awarded Rs. 5 lakhs as immediate interim relief to Ms. Usha Kiran Vajpayee, to be paid by the Government of UP.