Latest news with #HaryanaHumanRightsCommission
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Rights panel slams Haryana cops for stripping disabled CA, orders ₹50k relief
Chandigarh: The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has indicted a police assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and a constable of forcibly making an arrested chartered accountant (CA), who has a physical disability, to strip to his underwear, allow a relative of his estranged wife to make a video of him in the embarrassing position, and then distribute it. The commission on Wednesday asked the Haryana home department to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the victim, a resident of Faridabad who was arrested in a molestation case registered on a complaint by his wife at Saran police station. The order came from a full quorum bench comprising commission chairman Justice Lalit Batra, judicial member Kuldeep Jain, and member Deep Bhatia, while announcing partial relief in a case pending for three years. The incident dates to May 2021, when the ASI and constable had gone to arrest the victim. The victim alleged that after his arrest, the cops instructed him to remove his clothes in public view. Though he resisted, they coerced him into disrobing himself to his underwear, he alleged. Thereafter, he claimed, the cops facilitated a relative of his estranged wife to click his photo and shoot a video while in a semi-nude condition, and the same was circulated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enhance Online Presence and Get Customers [Try Now] Undo "This was not just a grave violation of human rights of the person by cops but resulted in traumatic stigma on the complainant as the video and pictures shot by private persons were circulated in private circles. Now, we have directed the home department to compensate the victim, and the department is at liberty to recover the fine from the errant cops identified as ASI Jagmati and constable Rakesh," said the commissioner in the order. The complainant also claimed that his request to the office of the Faridabad commissioner of police (CP) did not bear fruit. Even before HHRC, the police force was not cooperative and favoured the errant cops by not sharing the video footage of the lock-up. On reinvestigation, a DCP-level officer admitted to the victim being semi-nude but claimed that the victim volunteered to remove his clothes due to the summer heat. The commission did not buy this theory and assigned the investigation to its own investigating team headed by an SP-level officer. During investigation, the allegations were found to be true, and the complainant also brought on record a clip and photographs circulated by the relative of his estranged wife. "Since the availability of the video clip was an admitted fact supported by circumstantial evidence, this was enough to indict the errant cops to announce this order," said Bhatia, HHRC member.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Panchkula civil hospital set for ‘corrective surgery' as Haryana govt releases funds
1 2 3 4 Panchkula: Under scrutiny for its bad condition, the civil hospital in Sector 6 is set for a major facelift as renovation and repair work officially began. With the state govt releasing dedicated funds, the public works department (PWD) commenced comprehensive revamp efforts aimed at modernising the hospital infrastructure and enhancing patient care. According to officials, the entire hospital complex will be renovated. Key focus areas include repairing the leaking roof of the emergency block, fixing widespread seepage issues in different parts of the hospital, and securing loose electrical wiring. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen the hospital's weak online connectivity signals. Basic amenities are also on the list for urgent upgrades. The toilets, reportedly in a severely deteriorated condition, will be fully renovated. The old sewerage pipeline will be repaired, and entry points for rainwater seepage will be sealed. A large-scale repair and recarpeting of internal roads will also be undertaken. Parking facilities are being redesigned for better space management. A major update is planned for D Block, where central air conditioning will replace aging window units. To meet fire safety norms and obtain the Fire NOC (No Objection Certificate) for its D block, the hospital will also be equipped with water sprinklers, fire hoses, and smoke detectors. "This is a comprehensive revamp. We received funds and the PWD already started the work. Different tenders will be floated for different components of the project by the PWD," said Chief Medical Officer Dr Mukta Kumar after an inspection of the hospital. The upgrade is expected to improve both patient experience and working conditions for staff, while aligning the hospital with updated health and safety standards. Box: Issues at hospital It may be mentioned here that TOI earlier highlighted the hospital's bad condition in its report. Also, earlier, noting "health is a basic human right of every citizen", which must be provided in all hospitals, the Haryana Human Rights Commission directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Haryana, to depute a senior officer to look into the complaint about the poor condition of the hospital. In this complaint to the Commission, Complainant SK Nayar, President of Panchkula Citizens Welfare Association, stated that the functioning of the hospital is in a very dilapidated condition for the last few years. Following an inspection of the hospital, he complained that the roofs of doctors' rooms and patient wards are leaking, and there is a lot of neglect in regular maintenance of the building and its surrounding areas. There is no proper place for garbage. The toilets in the hospital are in a very shabby state and are locked by the authorities, causing problems for patients and their attendants. Whenever there is a power supply failure, there is no light for the emergency ward, ICU, and maternity wards, causing a lot of inconvenience for patients. Security arrangements are not proper in the hospital, he alleged.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Indian Express
Haryana rights panel imposes Rs 50k fine on home dept after cops disrobe disabled CA in custody, allow man to click photos
The Haryana Human Rights Commission has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the state Home Department for disrobing a disabled Chartered Accountant and allowing his brother-in-law to take his semi-nude pictures and videos, which were then circulated on social media. 'Such cruel and disregarding treatment, particularly of a person with a disability, is utterly unacceptable in a civilised society,' the full bench of the Commission, led by Justice Lalit Batra, ruled in the order released on Wednesday. The Commission, which also comprises Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, has allowed the department to recover the penalty from the errant police officers, identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Jagwati and Constable Rakesh Kumar. Reacting to the order, the Faridabad-based complainant Anil Thakur said, 'Justice may have been delayed, but it has finally arrived. The violation of my dignity has been acknowledged'. Thakur was arrested on May 24, 2021, in connection with a criminal case. In his complaint, he alleged that while in custody at Saran police station in Faridabad, he was stripped, photographed, and filmed in a semi-naked condition, and that the images were later circulated. The incident, he stated, caused him extreme mental trauma and public humiliation, and gravely violated his human rights. Over the last four years, as the Faridabad police continued to defend its officers and failed to supply the CCTV footage of the incident, the Commission carried out a probe through its investigation wing. 'An impartial inquiry conducted by the Commission's Investigation Wing confirmed that ASI Jagwati and Constable Rakesh Kumar had indeed compelled Mr Thakur to undress in custody. Shockingly, they even permitted his relative (brother-in-law) to record videos and take photos during his detention. This not only breached police conduct rules but also trampled upon the complainant's privacy, dignity, and mental well-being', the Commission pointed out. In its detailed and strongly worded order, the Commission observed: 'This incident challenges the very spirit of constitutional values and the notion of human dignity. No individual — regardless of the accusations against them — deserves to be subjected to such humiliation and public exposure. This act is a direct violation of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution'. 'As a result of the incident, the complainant has reported persistent emotional trauma, humiliation and depression, which amounts to mental agony in a custodial environment. The psychological consequences arising from being stopped in police custody are long-lasting and amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, entitling the complainant to judicial protection, redressal and appropriate compensation under constitutional and human rights law,' the Commission said in its order. Dr Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information & Public Relations Officer of the Commission, informed that as per the panel's directions, 'the Home Department of the Government of Haryana has been ordered to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to the victim… While symbolic in nature, the compensation reflects the state's recognition of its responsibility to uphold the dignity of every citizen'. 'Police custody must not turn into a site of torture and shame. This order sends a clear message that the system will not tolerate custodial abuse or the misuse of power,' added Dr Arora.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Trampled on dignity': Haryana rights panel slaps Rs 50k fine after cops disrobe disabled CA, allow man to circulate pics
The Haryana Human Rights Commission has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the state Home Department after police officers disrobed a disabled Chartered Accountant in custody and allowed his brother-in-law to take his semi-nude pictures and videos, which were then circulated on social media. 'Such cruel and disregarding treatment, particularly of a person with a disability, is utterly unacceptable in a civilised society,' the full bench of the Commission, led by Justice Lalit Batra, ruled in the order dated July 16, which was released on Wednesday. The Commission, which also comprises Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, has allowed the department to recover the penalty from the errant police officers, identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Jagwati and Constable Rakesh Kumar. Reacting to the order, the Faridabad-based complainant Anil Thakur said, 'Justice may have been delayed, but it has finally arrived. The violation of my dignity has been acknowledged'. Dr Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information & Public Relations Office, HHRC, said, 'While symbolic in nature, the compensation reflects the state's recognition of its responsibility to uphold the dignity of every citizen. Police custody must not turn into a site of torture and shame. This order sends a clear message that the system will not tolerate custodial abuse or the misuse of power.' Anil Thakur was arrested on May 24, 2021, in connection with a criminal case. In his complaint, he alleged that while in custody at Saran police station in Faridabad, he was stripped, photographed, and filmed in a semi-naked condition, and that the images were later circulated. The incident, he stated, caused him extreme mental trauma and public humiliation, and gravely violated his human rights. Over the last four years, as the Faridabad police continued to defend its officers and failed to supply the CCTV footage of the incident, the Commission carried out a probe through its investigation wing. 'An impartial inquiry conducted by the Commission's Investigation Wing confirmed that ASI Jagwati and Constable Rakesh Kumar had indeed compelled Mr Thakur to undress in custody. Shockingly, they even permitted his relative (brother-in-law) to record videos and take photos during his detention. This not only breached police conduct rules but also trampled upon the complainant's privacy, dignity, and mental well-being', the Commission pointed out. In its detailed and strongly worded order, the Commission observed: 'This incident challenges the very spirit of constitutional values and the notion of human dignity. No individual — regardless of the accusations against them — deserves to be subjected to such humiliation and public exposure. This act is a direct violation of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution'. 'As a result of the incident, the complainant has reported persistent emotional trauma, humiliation and depression, which amounts to mental agony in a custodial environment. The psychological consequences arising from being stopped in police custody are long-lasting and amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, entitling the complainant to judicial protection, redressal and appropriate compensation under constitutional and human rights law,' the Commission said in its order.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Ensure protection to aggrieved couple: Haryana human rights panel to Panchkula DC
Chandigarh: Taking serious note of a disturbing complaint, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) on Monday issued a strong directive in favour of 82-year-old Arjan Dev Aggarwal and his 72-year-old wife, Vijay Aggarwal, residents of Sector 9, Panchkula . They have accused their son and daughter-in-law of mental harassment, neglect, and coercion to transfer property. According to the complaint, despite being elderly and suffering from severe health conditions requiring multiple surgeries, the couple was subjected to isolation, verbal abuse, and psychological trauma while living under the same roof with their son and daughter-in-law. The complainants allege they were threatened to move into an old-age home and were even falsely implicated in a domestic violence case. They also filed an application for eviction under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, before the Senior Citizen Tribunal in Panchkula on Jan 18, 2025, but received no relief so far. 'Entitled to claim maintenance from children' The commission observed that the aggrieved senior citizens are entitled to claim maintenance from their children, and any property transferred on the condition of care, if not fulfilled, can be declared null and void. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Justice Lalit Batra, chairperson of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, noted that such treatment is not only a violation of the 2007 Act but also a gross infringement of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to live with dignity. He termed the conduct of the respondents as a clear case of abuse, neglect, and coercion. In light of the prima facie evidence of elder abuse, the commission directed the deputy commissioner of Panchkula to ensure immediate protection to the elderly couple through local police or other concerned authorities. Besides this, the DC has been asked to expedite proceedings before the Senior Citizen Tribunal and provide necessary administrative assistance. Next hearing on Sept 23 Puneet Arora, spokesperson of the commission, informed that the next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for Sept 23, and copies of the commission's order have been sent to the deputy commissioner and commissioner of police, Panchkula, as well as to the complainants for necessary compliance. MSID:: 122817368 413 |
