Neglect of Human Rights Commission (HRC) notices has cost two Government officials dear as they would be punished with a jail term or fine or both.
Taking the HRC notices lightly and not attending the hearing has proved costly to two officers of Balaghat district, as the acting chairman of the Commission, Justice AK Saxena, has issued instructions for punitive action against the Balaghat District Education Officer (DEO), Nirmala Patel, and the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), AK Khosla. Information in this regard has been sent to the Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI) and Commissioner, Health, besides the Principal Secretaries of both the departments.
Action would be initiated against both the officials under sections 174, 175 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). There is a provision of maximum one month’s prison and a fine of Rs 1000 or both.The HRC has the powers equivalent to a civil court under section 13 of the Human Rights Act in cases of negligent attitude of Government officials and employees.Patel failed to reply to the commission’s letter and also to submit the report despite several reminders on a complaint of torture of a student by a teacher of Green Valley Public School, Dogariya (Waraseoni).
Similarly, Khosla was asked to appear before the Commission over a news published about the bad condition of the Kirnapur Primary Health Centre. He was first told to submit his reply and was given several reminders about the same, failing that he was asked to appear in person before the Commission but he failed to do so.The Commission took both the cases very seriously and using its powers equal to that of a civil court, is taking punitive action against both the officials under the Criminal Procedure Course (CrPC).