Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has got down to business straightaway booking a case suo motu on the death of N. Ritika, a four-year-old school girl killed in a road accident in Secunderabad on Thursday.
Minutes after three of the five members of the commission assumed office here on Friday, an advocate brought to the notice of the Chairman, B. Subhashan Reddy, the ghastly death of the girl after she was run over by a van outside St. Ann's High School. Responding instantaneously, Justice Reddy said: "We are apprised of the sad news about the girl's death. All newspapers have reported the mishap. Accordingly, taking cognizance of the case suo motu, I order that the press clippings be considered as petitions."
While posting the case for hearing next Friday, he issued notices to the school management, the city Police Commissioner, the District Educational Officer and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH).
Earlier, Justice Reddy and two judicial members — P. Ramakrishnam Raju and E. Ismail — signed papers to mark their assumption of office. Two other non-judicial members are yet to be named.
Hardly had they finished the formalities of taking charge, and walked into the adjoining court hall in the Gruhakalpa complex opposite Gandhi Bhavan that the matter was brought to their notice.
After assuming charge, the new Chairman enquired from the commission staff whether there were any cases pending. "We are hungry to dispose of cases," he remarked.
Seminar to be held
Members of the State Human Rights Committee, which stands superseded by the SHRC, were given a farewell by the new body. The committee members — A. Hanumanthu and N. Subbaraju — explained the nature of their functioning.
Justice Reddy told presspersons that the commission would shortly conduct a seminar on human rights to which the National Human Rights Commission Chairman, A.S. Anand, would be invited.
