NHRC to look into Bundelkhand starvation deaths

Lucknow, Jan 20 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said it would look into cases of starvation deaths of farmers in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, although so far it has not received any such complaint.

Addressing reporters here, NHRC acting chairman Justice Shivraj V Patil said the Commission would look into the issue soon.

''Although such cases have so far not come across us, we would look into the matter,'' he informed. The Commission is authorised to take suo moto cognizance on such issues based on newspaper reports.

The full bench of the NHRC is in the state capital to dispose of pending cases in the state.

The Commission had organised a three-day camp here to clear several cases. While its full bench disposed of 32 cases, 150 cases were disposed of by single members.

As on March 31, 2006, 21,204 cases of UP were pending with the Commission. After it took a special drive between December 2006 and January 20, 2007, the Commission disposed of 5,224 cases. Nearly 1,000 cases were listed for the three-day sitting.

Justice Patil said maximum complaints from the state pertained to police and prison departments. ''Although UP has the largest case pendency in the country, much depend on the area and population of the state,'' he noted.

The Commission expressed anguish in the case relating to manipulation of revenue records in large scale.

The NHRC discussed the case of a Lal Bihari 'Mritak' and similar other cases in Azamgarh district relating to declaring a landholder dead and upsurping his/her property.

While 90 cases belongded to Azamgarh district itself, 11 similar cases were traced to other districts.

The Commission has asked Secretary (revenue) be present before the Commission in March and submit a comprehensive report and provide it with a status report on action taken against the erring officials.

At the insistence of the Commission, the UP Power Corporation Ltd has agreed to increase the compensation in cases of electrocution to Rs 50,000.

Meanwhile, the UP government has directed that magistarial probes be completed within three months. If cases were found pending after one year, disciplinary actions will be initiated against them.

UNI