LUCKNOW: The National Human Rights Commission has pulled up the Uttar Pradesh Government for the non-filing of first information reports on custodial and encounter deaths in the State and delay in complying with its recommendations on the issue.

The NHRC expressed anguish at the large-scale manipulation of revenue records in which the landholder was declared "dead" even though he was alive for the purpose of usurping his landed property. It expressed concern over the inadequate action taken against the erring officials.

The NHRC conducted a full commission meeting here from January 18 to 20.While 32 cases of human rights violations were disposed of by the full Commission, 150 cases were disposed of by single members.

As on March 31, 2006, 21,204 cases were pending with the panel. Following the special drive from December 21, 2006 to January 20. 2007, 5,224 cases were disposed of. These included the 182 cases disposed of during the three-day hearing in Lucknow.

Non-compliance of its recommendations relating to encounter deaths and cases relating to the "living dead" dominated the hearing. Briefing the press on the outcome of the meeting, Acting NHRC Chairperson Shivraj. V. Patil on Saturday said the pace of compliance was worrisome. The delay was noticed in sending all requisite details, including magisterial inquiry reports, post-mortem reports and inquest, in custodial and encounter death cases.

Mr. Patil said following his discussions with the Home Secretary, Principal Secretary, Prisons, DG (Prisons) and ADG (Human Rights), the State Government issued directives that pending magisterial inquiries be completed within three months. The Government further assured the panel that in future the magisterial inquiries would be completed in three months and in exceptional cases, six months. If the cases were found pending for more than a year, disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the officials.

(According to the data available with the Commission, 813 cases of custodial and encounter deaths have been reported from Uttar Pradesh since 1993.)

Mr. Patil said the action taken against the revenue officials was "totally inadequate." The Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department was directed to submit details of the cases of the "living dead" by March 12.

The action taken report on the delinquent revenue officials should also be submitted. The Principal Secretary was asked to meet the panel on March 15 next. Ninety cases were reported from Azamgarh district alone, with 11 such cases traced in other districts.

On the starvation deaths in the Bundelkhand region of the State, Mr. Patil said the Commission shall take appropriate cognisance if the reports were brought to its notice.

Apart from Mr. Patil, Commission members, P.C. Sharma, R.S. Kalha and Y. Bhaskar Rao conducted the hearing.

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