'Get A Criminal Case Registered': NHRC to DGP, UP; Pulls Up SP & Principal Secretary In Electrocution Death Case

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a show-cause notice to the Superintendent of Police, Uttar Pradesh, as to why it should not recommend a departmental inquiry against him for not acting under the law in a matter of the death of a senior citizen due to electrocution. In the same matter, a notice has been issued to the Director-General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, to register a criminal case for the said incident.

Taking a serious note of delay and non-responsiveness, it also issued summons to the Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Govt of Uttar Pradesh for personal appearance. While perusing the information submitted by the SP, the Commission remarked that it appears that an attempt has been made to cover up the acts of omissions/commissions on the part of the delinquent Public Servants. It noted,

"The Commission is constrained to observe that despite lapse of considerable time and opportunities, having been given, the Principal Secretary., Department of Energy, Govt of Uttar Pradesh has not submitted the Statutory Enquiry Report of the Chief Electrical Inspector in the matter till date. The Commission takes serious view of the non-responsive attitude of the aforesaid Principal Secretary, in a case involving death of a senior citizen woman due to electrocution."

The complainant, Yogendra Kumar Singh, alleged negligence by the Electricity Department Personnel in District Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, leading to the death of Smt. Gulzari Devi due to electrocution, seeking interference of the Commission.

While taking cognizance of the matter, the Commission called for a report from the Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, on the Criminal case registered in the matter and the Statutory Enquiry Report of the Chief Electrical Inspector from the Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh. On receiving information the Commission pulled up the SP for not acting under the law and referred to the report as 'sketchy, evasive and devoid of facts.'

The order records that the report of the SP reveals that Smt. Gulzari Devi has died due to electrocution, and the matter is related to the electricity department. It was further submitted that it would be appropriate to get the case inquired into by the concerned department. The Commission took a serious note of the conduct of the SP, remarking that despite the incident discloses the commission of a cognizable offense, the law has not been set in motion. It observed that in the report, the SP was expected to furnish the details concerning registration of the criminal case and the status thereof. Still, instead, it appears that an attempt has been made to cover up the acts of omissions/commissions on the part of the delinquent Public Servants.

The SP is required to respond by September 02, 2021 to dispense his personal appearance. The DGP has been given the time of four-weeks to submit a status/outcome report. 

The case has been listed on September 09. 

Click Here To Download/Read The Order