SHRC orders compensation to RTI activist in TN, recommends disciplinary action against three cops

COIMBATORE: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to a social activist in Coimbatore district who was harassed by three cops for lodging a complaint against a panchayat official and his car driver. The court directed the government to recover the Rs 1 lakh from the three cops – Rs 50,000 from a sub-inspector of police and Rs 25,000 each from two inspectors. The SHRC also recommended disciplinary action against the police officers.
The activist -- R Ramesh Kumar from Thirumalayampalayam -- was threatened by a panchayat official and his car driver after he filed an RTI petition on October 25, 2019 seeking information relating to solid waste management. He filed the RTI petition with Thirumalayampalayam executive officer Felix. Two weeks later, he and his father received threats and warnings from Felix’s driver Manikandan.
Ramesh Kumar sent a complaint against Felix and his driver to district collector, superintendent of police, chief minister’s cell and KK Chavdi police station seeking action against them.
Instead of registering a case and initiating an inquiry, police officers Thooyamani Vellaisamy (inspector of Madukarai circle), G Manivannan (inspector of Vadavalli circle) and sub-inspector of KK Chavadi police station Anandakumar went to Ramesh Kumar’s house at 2am on October 12. The officers took him to a bus terminal located 800 metre away from his house on the pretext of an inquiry by the deputy superintendent of police. But no DSP was there. Ramesh Kumar was left off after 30 minutes of questioning.
Ramesh Kumar sent a complaint to the SHRC stating that he had been kidnapped and tortured. The SHRC directed the district superintendent of police to conduct an inquiry into the complaints by Ramesh Kumar and to send a report. The report confirmed that the officers had visited the house and conducted an inquiry. However, it stated that he had not been kidnapped and tortured.
After listening to both sides D Jayachandran, member, SHRC, observed that “it is very clear from the materials on record that the complainant is not an accused or having bad antecedents. There is no necessity for the respondents (police officers) to go to the house of the complainant around 2am and take him to some other place and conducted an inquiry that too without any reason.”
He further stated that the behaviour of the respondents (police officers) clearly amounted to violation of human rights of the complainant. It also amounted to dereliction of duty by the sub-inspector as he did not register a case despite a complaint against the panchayat official had been sent to him.