Latest news with #HaryanaHumanRightsCommission
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Haryana Human Rights Commission seeks reports on deaths of 4 children in Hisar brick kiln wall collapse
The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken serious note of a tragic incident in which four children lost their lives and three others were injured after a brick kiln wall collapsed in Budana village, Hisar, on the night of December 22 last year. Site of a tragic incident in which four children lost their lives and three others were injured after a brick kiln wall collapsed in Budana village, Hisar, on the night of December 22 last year. (File) HHRC chairperson Justice Lalit Batra said the commission received a complaint from activist KS Nagra regarding the deaths of the children, who belonged to migrant labour families from Uttar Pradesh. The commission observed that the families appeared to be living and working in conditions resembling bonded labour. 'The brick kiln owner holds both a statutory and moral duty to ensure workplace safety, especially for labourers and their families residing on or near the premises. The incident is a gross violation of human rights — particularly the right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution — and breaches the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989,' the commission noted in its order. The HHRC has directed the Hisar deputy commissioner to confirm whether compensation has been provided to the affected families. If not, the DC must specify the schemes under which assistance can be granted. The commission also sought a report from the Hisar superintendent of police on whether an FIR was registered and its current status. Further, the assistant labour commissioner of Hisar has been asked to investigate possible bonded labour practices at the site and take necessary remedial measures. The district food and supplies officer has been instructed to provide the operational and inspection status of the brick kiln, while the regional officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board has been asked to submit a report on the site's environmental compliance. The commission has also demanded an explanation from the brick kiln owner regarding the lack of safety measures and inadequate residential arrangements for workers. All concerned officials have been directed to submit their reports within eight weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for October 14.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana Human Rights Commission seeks report on Hisar wall collapse that left 4 children dead
Chandigarh, The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken cognisance of the death of four children in a wall collapse incident in Hisar last year and directed the concerned authorities to submit detailed reports before the next hearing scheduled for October. Haryana Human Rights Commission seeks report on Hisar wall collapse that left 4 children dead The incident took place on December 22, 2024, at a brick kiln in Budana village. Three children were injured in the wall collapse. The matter was brought to the commission's attention through a complaint filed by a human rights activist. The deceased minors' parents were migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh working at the brick kiln, observed the bench of the commission comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and Members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia. Many families of labourers from Uttar Pradesh worked at the kiln in Budana. The children and some labourers were sleeping near one of the walls of the brick kiln when it collapsed on them. The commission remarked that the workers and their families were living in extremely inhumane and unsafe conditions. According to the commission, this was a preventable tragedy that occurred due to a lack of legal enforcement and failure to provide basic human necessities, Dr Puneet Arora, Information and Public Relations Officer of the Commission, said. On preliminary examination, the commission termed the incident a gross violation of human rights and a clear case of administrative failure. It also observed that the circumstances reflected indicators of bonded labour, which is prohibited under the Bonded Labour System Act, 1976. The commission, under the leadership of Justice Batra, stated that the brick kiln owner had both a moral and statutory duty to provide secure housing, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and workplace safety to labourers and their families. The commission found this to be a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India and of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In its order dated July 24, the commission has directed the authorities concerned to submit detailed reports within eight weeks. The deputy commissioner of the district will be confirming whether any compensation has been granted to the affected families, while the assistant labour commissioner will investigate the existence of bonded labour at the site and initiate appropriate remedial action, the commission noted. Explanation from the owner of the brick kiln is required regarding the lack of safety and residential arrangements for labourers at the site, the commission said. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for October 14, by which date all concerned officials are required to submit their respective reports before the commission, it said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Faridabad police custody abuse: Haryana told to pay ₹50k to victim after 4 years
Four years after a differently-abled man was stripped, photographed, and filmed in a semi-naked state while in police custody, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has ruled that the state government must pay ₹50,000 as compensation for the severe violation of his human rights. The commission highlighted that the Haryana home department failed to respond to the show cause notice issued against the police officials involved. (HT File) The man, a Chartered Accountant (CA), was subjected to public humiliation and mistreatment by police officials in Faridabad. The incident occurred on May 24, 2021, after the man was arrested in connection with a matrimonial dispute filed by his wife. She had lodged a criminal case against him under Sections 406 and 498-A of the IPC, alleging harassment and dowry-related offenses. Later, the man filed a divorce petition, which was later withdrawn during conciliation proceedings. However, his wife subsequently registered another FIR in June 2021, accusing him of stalking and criminal intimidation. In its order on July 16, the full bench of the HHRC, comprising chairperson justice Lalit Batra (retd) and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, said that two police officials, an assistant sub-inspector and a constable rank official, had compelled the man to undress in a public area of the police premises, despite his requests to be allowed privacy. 'The man described the experience as 'akin to a living death,' subjected to severe humiliation in full public view,' reads the order. According to HHRC, the action of the police officials involved — ASI Jagwati and constable Rakesh Kumar — amounted to a blatant violation of the man's right to dignity and privacy, both protected under human rights laws. The commission found that the police had no legitimate reason to force the man to undress and strip him of his clothing in front of others. Such an act, without legal or medical justification, directly contravenes established custodial guidelines. The commission also expressed concern over the unauthorised videography and photography of the man in a semi-nude condition by his brother-in-law who later circulated them on social media, further exacerbating the violation of his dignity and privacy. 'This act, carried out in the presence of others and without lawful necessity or judicial sanction, is a direct affront to the complainant's right to dignity and privacy,' the HHRC's order states. The commission's findings, backed by an internal investigation, indicated that the police officials failed to discharge their duties properly. It also noted that the man, being an educated and professional individual, would not have voluntarily undressed in such a public setting. The HHRC pointed out that the incident occurred under clear duress, highlighting the negligence and misconduct of the police officials. In its final ruling, the commission ordered the Haryana home department to compensate the victim with ₹50,000, acknowledging the violation of his rights and the lasting emotional trauma caused by the incident. However, the commission clarified that this compensation is not meant to represent the full extent of the harm suffered by the man but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the severe breach of his dignity. The commission also highlighted that the Haryana home department failed to respond to the show cause notice issued against the police officials involved, further questioning the state's commitment to addressing custodial misconduct.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Human rights panel directs Haryana to pay man ₹50K
Four years after a physically disabled man was stripped and videographed while in Faridabad police custody in a case of matrimonial dispute, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken strong exception and directed the state home department to pay ₹50,000 as compensation to the man for violation of right to life. The fine is to be recovered from the guilty police officials, officials said. (FILE) In its order on July 16, the full bench of HHRC, comprising chairperson justice Lalit Batra (retd) and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, said an impartial inquiry conducted by the commission's investigation wing confirmed that two police officials, an assistant sub-inspector and a constable rank official, had compelled the man, a chartered accountant, to undress in custody. Such cruel and degrading treatment, particularly of a person with disability, is utterly unacceptable in a civilised society, the commission said. 'This incident challenges the very spirit of constitutional values and the notion of human dignity. No individual, regardless of the accusations against them, deserves to be subjected to such humiliation and public exposure. This act is a direct violation of the right to life and personal liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution,' the order said. The man, a resident of Faridabad, was arrested on May 24, 2021, in connection with a criminal case filed by his wife. In his complaint to HHRC, the man alleged that while he was in custody at Saran police station, Faridabad, he was stripped, photographed and filmed in a semi-naked condition. The visuals were circulated on social media. The incident, he said, caused him extreme mental trauma and public humiliation. He described the experience 'as akin to a living death' and said that the psychological trauma continues to weigh heavily on him, pushing him into a state of deep depression. According to the findings in the inquiry report of the director of investigation of the commission, it was found that on May 25, 2021, a brother-in-law of the complainant was allowed to take photos and record a video of the man while he was confined in the police lock-up in a semi-nude condition. 'The images and video footage were later circulated on social media, compounding the complainant's trauma, exposing him to public ridicule and causing deep psychological harm. The act of allowing civilians to capture visuals of a detainee, particularly in a compromised and vulnerable state, reflects a complete breakdown of custodial protocol and constitutes a direct violation of the complainant's right to privacy and dignity,' the report said. Police not only failed in their duty to protect the person in their custody, but actively enabled the public dissemination of humiliating content, resulting in irreversible reputational and emotional damage to the complainant, it added. In its order, HHRC said that the 'cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment' entitles the complainant to judicial protection, redressal and appropriate compensation under constitutional and human rights law. Puneet Arora, HHRC public relations officer, said the home department of the Haryana government has been ordered to pay ₹50,000 as compensation to the victim. This amount is to be recovered equally from the guilty police officials, he said. 'This compensation is not intended to represent the full measure of the harm suffered by the complainant, but is awarded as a symbolic acknowledgement of the violation of his human rights and human dignity,' the order said. 'Police custody must not turn into... torture and shame. This order sends a clear message that the system will not tolerate custodial abuse or the misuse of power,' Arora said.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Time of India
Handicapped CA stripped, filmed in police lockup, rights panel imposes Rs 50k fine on cops
Gurgaon: A chartered accountant (CA) was stripped inside Saran police station lockup, and a video of the incident, filmed by his brother-in-law with the help of police, was shared on social media. Taking cognisance of the incident, Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) imposed a fine of Rs 50K on a sub-inspector and a constable, ordering that the amount be deducted from their salary. CA Anil Thakur, who is also a person with physical disability, was going through a dispute with his wife. On April 6, 2021, his wife filed a complaint against him under sections 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC at Saran police station, following which he was arrested from his residence in Faridabad on May 24, 2021, and taken to Saran police station. In his complaint, he alleged that while in custody, he was stripped, photographed, and filmed, and that these videos were later circulated on social media. The incident, which was a grave violation of his human rights, caused him extreme mental trauma and public humiliation, he said. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The CA approached HHRC in June 2021, following which the commission sought a report on the incident from Faridabad police commissioner. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo The report, submitted in Aug 2021, confirmed that the CA was arrested but denied his stripping and harassment. However, in Sept 2021, the commission directed the police to form an inquiry committee and look through the CCTV footage of the given date. The committee, in its report, said that while the man was kept naked in the lock-up, it was a voluntary act and done due to the heat. The CCTV footage could not be retrieved, it added. After the commission went through the report and gave the police directions to review it, a fresh report was submitted by the police. In this it was mentioned that ASI Jagwati and constable Rakesh Kumar detained the man and instructed him to remove his clothes, leaving him with only his underwear on. The report admitted the negligence of the officials in performance of their duties. The full bench of the commission, comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, observed that the conduct of police amounted to a serious violation of the human rights of the man. "The conduct of police officials constitutes a blatant abuse of authority and breach of the minimum standard of human treatment," said the commission. "Reducing a detainee to a semi-nude condition, without cause and in a custodial setting, constitutes humiliation and psychological abuse," it said, adding that it was "shocking" that the police even permitted his relative to record his videos during his detention. Puneet Arora, protocol, information & public relations officer of the commission, said that HHRC ordered the payment of Rs 50,000 as compensation to the victim and the amount was to be recovered equally from the guilty police officials — ASI Jagwati and Constable Rakesh Kumar. "Police custody must not turn into a site of torture and shame. This order sends a clear message that the system will not tolerate custodial abuse or the misuse of power," said Arora. The commission further highlighted that the compensation issued was not intended to represent the full measure of the harm suffered by the complainant but was awarded as a symbolic acknowledgment of the violation of his human rights and human dignity.
