Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 16: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) vide its recent direction on Dec 8, 2021 has directed its Registry to issue final reminder to Chief Secretary Govt of UT of Jammu & Kashmir as well as Additional Secretary, Department of Health and Medical Education, UT of Jammu & Kashmir to submit the proof of payment of Rs 3lakhs each to NoK of deceased infants/child within six weeks positively falling which this commission will be constrained to invoke its coercive powers u/s 13 of PHR Act, 1993 calling for the personal appearance of the authority concerned before the commission.
NHRC also directed UT administration that the additional/complete report as directed by the commission in the matter be sent latest by 29/01/2022 for further consideration by the commission.
Sukesh C Khajuria, a social activist of J&K, had approached the NHRC for ordering appropriate compensation to the victims and fixing of responsibility of the state authorities in the case.
The Commission had directed the Chief Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir to pay monetary compensation of Rs 3,00,000 to the NoK of each deceased, who died due to the consumption of adulterated oral syrup/medicine and whose human rights were infringed. It was further directed that the compliance report along with proof of payment be made available to the Commission within six weeks, positively.
Pursuant to that direction and reminder dated 6.5.2021, the Additional Secretary (Law), Health and Medical Education Department, UT of J&K, vide an email dated 07-06-2021 has submitted a compliance report by forwarding a letter dated 07-06-2021 of the Under-secretary of that Department wherein it is stated that vide a communication dated 01-06-2021, the State Drugs Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organization, J&K, Jammu has been asked to make the payment of Rs 3 lakhs to NoK of each deceased in terms of the order of the Commission.
The Commission, however, observed that proof of payment of Rs 3 lakhs to NoK of each deceased from later authority is still awaited. In the circumstances, the Commission directed the Chief Secretary, UT of Jammu & Kashmir to submit proof of payment within four weeks positively failing which the Commission shall be constrained to invoke its coercive power u/s 13 of the PHR Act, 1993 calling for the personal appearance of the authority concerned before the Commission. "Although, money cannot replace a human life but still can give some solace to the bereaved families who mostly are poor," Sukesh Khajuria said. |
