National Human Rights Commission: The NHRC has decided to send its own team of officers for making a fact finding inquiry/ investigation into the incident of police firing in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu on the 22nd May, 2018, causing the death of more than 11 protesters demanding closure of Sterlite Copper plant. The Commission has asked its Director General (Investigation) to depute a team headed by an officer not below the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police assisted by three more officers of the rank of Dy. SP and Inspectors from its Investigation Division.
The NHRC team would leave forthwith and examine all the concerned including family members of the victims and independent witnesses as it deems appropriate and submit a report to the Commission within two weeks.
The Commission has given this direction after considering the representation made by Mr. A Rajarajan under W.P. (C) 5779/2018 before the Delhi High Court and the orders of the Court passed on 25th May, 2018, inter alia directing as follows:
¢ According to the petitioner, the respondent/NHRC should consider the representation made by the petitioner and trigger an independent inquiry based on the provisions of Sections 14 & 17 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (in short ‘Act’).
¢ Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and, given the fact that the respondent/NHRC has called for reports, at this stage, the Court is inclined, only, to give liberty to the petitioner to appear before the respondent/NHRC for obtaining suitable directions.
¢ Accordingly, the aforementioned representation filed by the petitioner will be placed before the respondent/ NHRC on the 29th May, 2018, for appropriate directions.
¢ It is made clear that nothing stated hereinabove will impact the merits of the case.
The Commission has observed that its instant direction in the matter is independent of the directions already given by it to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Government of Tamil Nadu, vide its notices issued after taking suo motu cognizance of the incident on the basis of media reports on the 23rd May, 2018. They have been asked to submit detailed reports in the matter along with status of the treatment being provided to the persons who were injured in police firing within two weeks.
National Human Rights Commission
