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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Assault' on Class 11 student: Rights panel directs Jhajjar SP to submit report in 4 weeks
The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken a suo-moto cognisance of the incident of alleged physical assault by a Jhajjar private school teacher on a Class 11 student and has directed the superintendent of police (SP) to investigate the matter. The panel has also directed the SP to submit a report within four weeks and has asked the district education officer to conduct an institutional audit of the school. As per information, the student sustained a fracture in the arm due to assault and was later admitted to the hospital run by the same educational group. When the family reached the hospital, they were also subjected to intimidation and misconduct by the staff. Right panel chairperson justice Lalit Batra and other two members— Kuldeep Jain and Deep Bhatia— observed that the facts disclosed suggests serious violations of fundamental and human rights enshrined under the Constitution of India, particularly the right to life and personal liberty under Article 2, which encompasses dignity, mental well-being, and protection from abuse. 'The commission noted that this is not an isolated incident of violence but points to a systemic failure in ensuring student safety and monitoring staff conduct. Reports of intimidation faced by the victim's family further aggravate the seriousness of the matter,' the right panel said, adding such behaviour undermines trust in educational institutions and damages the sanctity of the teacher-student relationship. The panel also expressed concern over the physical and emotional trauma suffered by the student. 'The commission observed that the incident violates Sections 75 and 82 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which prohibit cruelty and corporal punishment against children. Moreover, it contravenes Articles 19 and 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which call for safeguarding children from all forms of physical or mental violence and ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment. The matter demands immediate and thorough investigation to protect the rights of the victim and ensure accountability,' justice Batra said in the order. Justice Batra also directed the Jhajjar superintendent of police to investigate the matter fairly in a time-bound manner under his own supervision and submit the report within four weeks. Moreover, he also directed the Jhajjar district education officer to conduct an urgent institutional audit of the concerned school. 'The audit will find out whether the educational institute has adopted a child protection policy or not, functioning of grievance redressal mechanisms exist for students and parents or not and whether the internal disciplinary mechanisms for staff misconduct are effectively implemented or not. The next hearing is fixed on July 8,' read the order.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
45 kidnapping cases a day, rights panel seeks report from top cop in Haryana
Gurgaon: An average of more than 45 people disappear each day across the state. Alarmed at the high number of cases of missing persons, kidnappings and homicides across Haryana — over 4,100 individuals went missing in the first quarter of 2025 alone — Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has directed its director (investigation) to seek a detailed report from the director general of police (DGP). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The DGP has been given eight weeks to submit the report. The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on July 31. The report must outline the status of all missing, kidnapping and murder cases from 2021 to 2025, including age-specific data, progress of investigations and preventive measures undertaken by the authorities, an HHRC official said. Taking a suo moto cognizance, a full bench — comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia — in its order recently said, "The failure of prompt and effective action by law enforcement agencies fosters an environment where organised crime flourishes, posing grave threats to societal peace and the rule of law." HHRC's protocol, information and public relations officer Dr Puneet Arora said that based on the facts presented before it, the commission considers this a matter requiring urgent intervention, administrative review and accountability. "The inability of law enforcement agencies to respond promptly and effectively facilitates the rise of organised criminal activities, leading to a climate of fear and lawlessness," the commission said. More than 1,000 cases of kidnapping were registered during the same period, alongside a notable rise in incidents of murder and culpable homicide compared to previous years. The commission observed the situation prima facie indicates a grave violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life, personal liberty, safety and legal protection as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and relevant provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The surge in such crimes suggests a failure by the state to uphold rights enshrined in UDHR Articles 3 (Right to life, liberty, and security), 7 (Equality before the law), 9 (Freedom from arbitrary detention), and 12 (Protection of family life and privacy). Families of the missing endure intense psychological distress, exacerbated by the uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones, the commission said. "Even when individuals are eventually found, reintegration into normal life remains a significant challenge for both the victims and their families," it said.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Open drains and filthy water: Rights panel seeks report on Faridabad primary health centre
Gurgaon: Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the "alarming condition" of the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Faridabad. With health facilities at UPHC in Mujesar "failing to meet even the most basic requirements", a full bench of HHRC, comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, on Monday directed the chief medical officer (CMO) to submit a detailed report "on the current status of its infrastructure, availability of medicines, staffing and corrective measures undertaken". The commission, which took cognisance on Monday, directed Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF) to immediately undertake sanitation drives, clear drainage systems and ensure proper road access to the health centre, followed by the submission of a compliance report. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The commission directed the authorised representatives of both the CMO/civil surgeon and the MCF commissioner to appear before it in person on the next hearing date on July 23, along with their action-taken reports. The commission pointed out that it was "clear negligence" by the municipal corporation and the district health authorities in maintaining health standards. HHRC protocol, information and public relations officer Dr Puneet Arora said copies of the commission's order have been sent to the additional chief secretaries of the urban local bodies department and health & family welfare department, as well as the director general of health services (Haryana) for necessary compliance. The human rights panel questioned administrative failures which "threaten public health". HHRC expressed deep concerns over filthy and foul-smelling water, accumulated outside the Mujesar health centre, overflowing open drains and haphazard parking by nearby residents severely restricting access, especially for pregnant women and elderly citizens. The commission observed that the situation was compounded by a "persistent shortage" of essential medicines, routine referrals to district hospitals even for minor ailments and a complete lack of basic sanitation, reflecting "a serious breakdown" in healthcare management. The commission said, "Pregnant women and daily-wage earners were forced to wade through filthy water and denied access to primary healthcare. This not only endangered lives but discriminated against the underprivileged in accessing essential services." "Fundamenta rights to health, dignity and equality under Articles 21 and 14 of the Constitution of India were being directly infringed," the bench said. It observed these conditions "amounted not merely to administrative negligence" but also constituted a grave violation of human rights. The very purpose of establishing UPHCs is to provide accessible and quality healthcare to the local population. However, the persistent issue of unsanitary surroundings, lack of infrastructure and inadequate healthcare services violated the principles of public health and undermined the ability of these centres to effectively serve the community, the panel said.
