NHRC awards Rs 50K compensation to family of slain jail inmate

New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Bihar government to pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the family of a man who had died in a jail in Bhagalpur.

Ram Ayodhya Prasad, 40, was lodged in the special central prison since August 2005 and died in January 2009. The inquiry magistrate had concluded that he died due to a lung disease. The NHRC had issued a notice to the state government, which had opposed payment of compensation on the ground that the deceased was given adequate medical treatment at the jail hospital as well as Medical College Hospital in Bhagalpur.

The medical record and post-mortem report of the deceased was referred to Dr Atul Murari of Lady Hardinge Medical College for independent opinion. He said that from the post-mortem report it appears that the deceased was probably suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.

"There is nothing on record to suggest that the deceased was investigated or treated for any lung disease like pulmonary TB," he opined.

Official sources said the rights panel, while considering the matter recently, noted that the government has not given adequate response on the issue of whether the deceased was treated for any disease like pulmonary TB.

"Consequently, the state cannot escape its liability to compensate the next of kin of the deceased," the NHRC said. "Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, the Commission recommends to the government of Bihar, through its Chief Secretary, to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of deceased Ram Ayodhya Prasad. The Chief Secretary is directed to submit the compliance report along with proof of payment within six week," it said.


(2011-3-27/msnNews)