African women: NHRC issues show-cause notice to Delhi govt

"The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Government of NCT of Delhi, through its Chief Secretary, to show cause why monetary relief under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 be not recommended to be paid to 12 African women victims of racial prejudice and unlawful acts by Shri Somnath Bharti, former Law Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi with his supporters in Khirki Extension, Delhi," the Commission said in a statement.

"It has also asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to inform the status of FIR No. 76/2014 dated the 19th January, 2014 registered at Police Station Malviya Nagar. Both the authorities have been given six weeks' time to respond," it said.

The Commission said:  "The Commission passed the recommendatory orders after careful consideration of the report of its Investigation Division as well as the enquiry report of Shri B.L. Garg, retired Additional District & Sessions Judge and observed that it is prima facie proved that there was gross violation of human rights of the African national women in the instant case."

The Commission said the enquiry report of B.L. Garg, provided by the Delhi Government, which concluded that the then Law Minister and his supporters were involved in illegally stopping the vehicles passing the way looking for African women.

"The African women were wrongful restraint and humiliated without any fault of them as no drug was found from their possession. They were subjected to racist slurs, assault, humiliation, misbehaviour, molestation with threat for dire consequences. The Inquiry Officer concluded that the response of the police in the light of the intervention of the then Law Minister was adequate and in conformity with the law and the role of the then Law Minister was not as per the existing provisions of the law as prima facie he violated the provisions of law while holding the Constitutional post," read the statement.