The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has registered a complaint seeking an inquiry into the role of the Delhi Government and Delhi Police in the death of farmer Gajendra Singh at an Aam Aadmi Party rally at Jantar Mantar here on April 22.
The complaint, sent by a Bhubaneswar-based law student, has alleged that Gajendra’s death, also suspected to be a case of suicide, in full public view prima facie seemed to be a case of grave human rights violation by two different “States” — the Delhi Government and Delhi Police.
KIIT University Rohit Kumar said: “The ‘State’ itself in the form of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his other Ministers witnessed the death of Gajendra Singh and did not do anything to prevent it.”
Questioning Mr. Kejriwal’s logic that Delhi Police was not under his control, Mr. Kumar said it was bizarre that the Chief Minister did not have adequate resources to save the life of a farmer who was allegedly threatening to commit suicide.
The complainant said Delhi Police, functioning under the direct control of the Centre, is an agency of the “State” within the interpreted meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution and is duty bound to protect the human rights of every individual. A large number of police personnel were posted at the AAP rally site at the time of the incident. Seeking NHRC’s intervention in the matter, Mr. Kumar pointed out that the Union Home Ministry’s order to Delhi Police to probe into the matter was in direct contravention of the principles of natural justice, as Delhi Police itself is under suspicion in the case.
The second probe ordered by the Delhi government is also under suspicion for not taking appropriate measures to save the farmer’s life. “Those who prima facie seem to be the culprits in the matter are conducting probe, which is in direct contravention of the principle laying down that no one can be a judge on his own cause,” he stated.
Only the NHRC can conduct a “proper and impartial” probe into the matter and bring justice to the victim and his bereaved family, said Mr. Kumar, while referring to different political parties trying to reap benefit out of the incident by blaming each other.
Complaint seeks inquiry into role of Delhi Government and police in death of Gajendra Singh at an AAP rally on April 22
