The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a serious case of caste discrimination at a cremation ground in Khasa Mahajanan village in Haryana's Hisar district. Come ...read more

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the serious case of caste discrimination at the cremation ground in Khasa Mahajanan village of Hisar district in Haryana and has summoned an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the district administration.

In this regard, former member of Child Rights Protection Commission, Sushil Verma had filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission.

The complaint alleged that separate cremation grounds for the general category and Scheduled Caste communities had been illegally designated at the village cremation ground, and that signs had been erected to enforce this discrimination. This act was not only unconstitutional but also against the fundamental principles of human dignity, equality, and social justice.

The bench headed by National Human Rights Commission member Priyank Kanoongo, considering it a prima facie violation of human rights, took cognizance under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

The Commission has directed the District Deputy Commissioner of Hisar to conduct an impartial investigation into the matter and submit a detailed action report to the Commission within two weeks.

The Commission has also observed that such practices are violative of Articles 14, 15 and 17 of the Indian Constitution and promote untouchability and social exclusion, which is unacceptable in a democratic society.

Complainant Sushil Verma has demanded from the Commission that strict action should be taken against the guilty persons and officials and clear guidelines should be issued to stop such inhuman and unconstitutional practices across the country.

 PC:Jagran