National Human Rights Commission
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
(National Human Rights Commission) NHRC has taken strict action against the Bihar government in the case of Muzaffarpur Civil Court advocate Pankaj Kumar’s eye being gouged out by the police. Human rights advocate SK Jha is representing the case on behalf of the victim advocate. After this, NHRC has now given orders to the state government in this direction. NHRC has now ordered the Chief Secretary of Bihar State Government to pay compensation of Rs 25 thousand to the victim advocate. The Commission had also issued a ‘show cause’ notice against the Chief Secretary in the matter and sought a response within two weeks in the matter, but no response was given by the Chief Secretary.
Subsequently, during the hearing of the case on August 21, the Commission took a strict stand and said that the government cannot run away from its responsibility of paying compensation, because here a public servant has violated human rights. Due to this the victim lost one of his eyes. The Commission has ordered the Chief Secretary to give Rs 25,000 as compensation to the victim and has given four weeks time to comply with the order.
Fell on the ground groaning in pain
Let us tell you that on February 7, advocate Pankaj Kumar was returning from Patna to his residence in Muzaffarpur at around 11:40 pm, when the policemen of Kazimohammedpur police station already present at Power House Chowk were standing to check the vehicle. His car was stopped by policemen and he was asked where he was coming from? Before the advocate could say anything, the police officer abused him and ordered the policemen to kill him. After that, one eye of advocate Pankaj Kumar was poked with a stick by a policeman. He fell on the ground groaning in pain. Then all the policemen ran away from there. Advocate Pankaj Kumar was treated at Shankar Nethralaya, Kolkata. He has lost the vision in one eye.
Demand for compensation of Rs 20 lakh
The victim advocate Pankaj Kumar had given information about this entire matter to the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi and Bihar Human Rights Commission, Patna through human rights advocate SK Jha. Hearing this, the National Human Rights Commission has taken action for compensation. Human rights lawyer S. Of. Jha said that this entire episode is a matter of very serious category of human rights violation. The Commission has been very strict regarding the matter from the beginning and the Commission has taken the matter very seriously. It may be noted that the next hearing in the case will be held on November 8, in which a request will be made to provide compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the victim’s advocate and to dismiss the guilty policemen. He said that attacks on advocates will not be tolerated at all. For this, it is necessary to make the guilty policeman aware of the law.
