The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has rejected the contention of the State Government to exempt it from paying compensation to a rape victim, who was subjected to the crime at a Government-run health centre by a contractual doctor.
The Government has requested the commission to exempt it from making any payment as compensation to the victim as the accused is a contractual staff.
But the NHRC on March 8 rejected the Health and Family Welfare Department’s contention and directed the Chief Secretary to comply with its order within six weeks.
The commission observed that, “when it is established that an employee be it on contractual basis, of the Government who happens to be a public servant, violates the human rights of a victim by outraging her modesty during course of his employment, the Government is vicariously liable to make compensation to the victim. Therefore, the question of exemption of the Government from making compensation does not arise. Therefore, the Chief Secretary is directed to submit compliance after making necessary compensation to the victim within six weeks positively.”
Earlier, the Chief Secretary was asked showcause as to why a monetary compensation of `50,000 should not be recommended to the victim within six weeks.
One Bhagaban Sahu, a contractual doctor working at Damapada health care centre under Banki police station on July 24, 2014 raped a woman patient at the centre.