HYDERABAD: In one case, a six-year-old student was killed in an accident in front of her school in 2005. The State Human Rights Commission took notice and a foot over bridge was constructed on the road. Ten years later, the FoB was dismantled to accommodate the Metro Rail. This incident was narrated by former High Court judge Justice P. Ramakrishnam Raju at an event to mark Human Rights Day.
Speaking about the incident of a small girl called Ritika who was killed and which had come to his notice after taking charge as a member of the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission, Justice P. Ramakrishnam Raju said that, “We immediately issued a notice to all the concerned members like school management, parents, RTC, motor vehicle Inspector, Director of School Education as well as the Traffic police. After the submission of their reports we examined them. We had given instructions that when a child is going to school he/she should be protected at every stage till the child comes back home.”
He added, “When we questioned the school authorities about what precautions they had taken to avoid accidents, they answered that they were responsible only inside the school boundary and it was not their responsibility outside the school premises. Due to the efforts of the Human Rights Commission, a foot over bridge was constructed so that school children and parents could cross the road with the help of the bridge.”
Speaking to this newspaper, Progressive Organisation for Women member Sandhya said, “People are approaching the State Human Rights Commission for Justice. However, due to lack of a permanent chairperson and never ending process of hearing justice is in a way denied.”
Ramakrishnam also cited some examples from the past where the State Human Rights Commission played an important role in a picnic tragedy case of Ravindra Bharathi School, Vijayawada, in which 15 kids died and also the death of Moddu Srinu in Anantapur jail. The case was disposed within a week and compensation was ordered.
