NHRC seeks report from Rajasthan CS over woman allegedly beaten, paraded semi-nude in Banswara

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding the alleged assault and public humiliation of a woman in Rajasthan’s Banswara district, where she was reportedly beaten with sticks and paraded semi-nude after her hair was forcibly cut by her husband and other relatives over allegations that she had left home with another man.

Observing that the contents of the media report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the victim’s rights to life and dignity, the NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Rajasthan government and the Superintendent of Police, Banswara, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

The report is expected to include the status of the investigation as well as details of compensation, if any, paid to the victim. According to the media report carried on September 4, the incident allegedly took place on September 1. The matter came to light after a video of the incident surfaced on social media.

The apex human rights body said the woman was reportedly subjected to cruelty and inhuman treatment in full public view by her husband and other relatives.

Established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC is an autonomous statutory body that embodies India’s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights. Its primary role is to protect and promote human rights, defined as rights relating to the life, liberty, equality and dignity of individuals, guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in international covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

The apex human rights body has the power to take suo motu action based on media reports, public knowledge or other sources, without receiving a formal complaint of human rights violations.

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