Acting on a complaint filed by Angul-based Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Defence Secretary for an action-taken report (ATR) within four weeks on the issue of mishap in submarine INS Sindh-uratna and INS Sindhurakshak. The commission has passed the order on March 31, 2014.
The petitioner stated that on February 26, 2014 two sailors died in INS Sindhuratna due to fire and smoke in compartment while 18 Navy personnel were killed in INS Sindhurakshak on August 14, 2013. As many as 10 similar incidents occurred in Navy warship in six months.“In this regard, Comptroller and Auditor General have already reported in 2008 and 2009 to change the old and outdated submarine/warship and procurement of Battery Monit-oring System urgently but the Ministry of Defence never took any steps,” the petitioner alleged.
The complainant further alleged while the CAG reported that half of Indian Submarine Fleet is in disrepair and more than 48 per cent ISF is available for waging war, the Government is yet to take any action.The petitioner urged the commission to initiate criminal action against the concerned Government officials responsible for the mishap and adequate compensation to the kin of the deceased persons.The petitioner has filed the petition basing on a news report titled ‘Navy at sea with old sub fleet: CAG’ published in The Pioneer on February 28, 2014.