Gandhinagar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) disposed of 73 cases during its two-day camp sitting and open hearing in Gujarat, including 27 cases heard by its Full Commission on Wednesday and 46 cases closed by a Division Bench on Thursday.
The proceedings were held at the National Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar on September 2 and 3.
The Full Commission, comprising NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian and members Justice (Dr) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi and Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, heard 45 cases on September 2 and closed 27 after considering submissions from the parties and compliance reports submitted by the authorities.
The NHRC said proof of compensation payments was submitted in several matters. Overall, compensation exceeding Rs 3.5 crore was reported to have been disbursed in cases considered during the proceedings, providing financial relief to victims and their families.
Several serious human rights violation matters were among the cases heard on the first day, including allegations concerning custodial deaths, police excesses and civic negligence resulting in fatalities.
In one case, a woman was allegedly arrested without proper notice and detained unlawfully. The Commission recommended compensation of Rs 7.5 lakh.
Justice Ramasubramanian said the woman had subsequently been released on bail, and the police case had been closed for lack of evidence, but the period she had spent in custody could not simply be undone.
“The fact that she had suffered in jail cannot be wiped out,” the NHRC Chairperson said during a media briefing after the hearing.
The Commission also considered cases involving deaths of workers in industrial incidents across Gujarat. In Bharuch, five workers were killed in a major fire and explosion at a chemical factory, with compensation provided to their families.
At a chemical plant in Dahej, four workers died after inhaling toxic gases, and their families received compensation totalling more than Rs 2 crore.
In Ahmedabad, the Commission heard a case involving the deaths of three workers after a large advertising hoarding collapsed. Criminal proceedings had been initiated against those responsible, while compensation details were pending.
Other matters included a case involving a child who was taken away by a dog and was never recovered, for which compensation was recommended for the family.
The Commission also considered complaints concerning school infrastructure failures and the lack of cremation grounds for Scheduled Caste communities, directing remedial action.
On September 3, Justice Ramasubramanian heard 27 cases concerning alleged bonded labour in the presence of the Gujarat Labour Secretary and district magistrates from the districts concerned.
A separate Division Bench comprising Justice Sarangi and Sayani heard 57 cases, including compliance matters and other complaints of alleged human rights violations, and disposed of 46.
The Division Bench also considered proof of payment of compensation amounting to Rs 27 lakh to the next of kin of a deceased person in the cases disposed of.
In other matters, the Commission sought further reports from the authorities.
The two-day sitting also included interactions with human rights defenders, NGOs and civil society organisations, followed by a meeting with senior state government officials on issues concerning human rights protection and implementation.
The Commission said the camp sitting and open hearing were intended to examine pending complaints directly, assess compliance by authorities and provide relief where violations had been established.
(IANS)
