The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of four incidents reported in the media. In each case it said the contents of the reports, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. It has issued notices to the authorities concerned and called for a detailed report within two weeks in every case.
The cases involve a sewer death in Uttar Pradesh, an assault in a juvenile home in Madhya Pradesh, deaths after surgery in Rajasthan and drownings in Bihar.
The Commission took cognizance of a report that a 28-year-old sanitation worker died on 14 July 2026 after inhaling toxic gases in a sewer line. He was part of a cleaning operation carried out by the NOIDA Authority in Sector-93, Gautam Budh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. His family reportedly alleged that sanitation workers were sent down into the sewer without adequate safety equipment.
The media report carried on 15 July 2026 said police and Fire Brigade personnel pulled him out and rushed him to hospital, where he died. The NHRC has issued notices to the Chairman of the NOIDA Authority and the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar.
The Commission took cognizance of a report that two juveniles were physically and sexually assaulted by fellow inmates at a Juvenile Home in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The medical examination of the victims has reportedly substantiated the allegations. According to the media report carried on 12 July 2026, the incident came to light when the victims' family visited them.
Notices have gone to the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh and the Commissioner of Police, Bhopal.
The Commission also took cognizance of a report that eight women and a minor died within a week of surgery in the gynaecology wards of the Bhilwara and Banswara government hospitals in Rajasthan. Five of the victims reportedly died at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara, and three women and a minor at the Banswara district hospital. The media report, carried on 12 July 2026, said an investigation is under way to determine the causes. The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan.
The fourth case concerns three children who drowned in the NTPC Ash Dyke Lagoon, built by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in the Kanti area of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar. NTPC stores a huge amount of coal ash in these ponds. Reportedly, no warning boards were installed in the area. The media report of 12 July 2026 said no security personnel had been deployed to keep villagers away from the ponds, where they go to collect coal residue to sell in the market.
Notices have been issued to the Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC, Delhi, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarpur.
The cases point to inadequate safety equipment for sanitation workers, the safety of juveniles in institutional care, deaths in public hospitals, and the absence of warning boards and security at industrial ash ponds. The authorities have been asked to submit their reports within two weeks.
With reference to the cases in which the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently took suo motu cognizance, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following pairs:
Incident : Authority to which the NHRC issued a notice
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Consider the following statements regarding the deaths after surgery in Rajasthan and the drownings in Bihar taken up by the NHRC:
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
