The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a complaint filed by NGO watchdog, Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), alleging that a religious preacher and his wife in Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district administered country-made drugs to two minor siblings during a child custody-related inquiry, causing severe mental distress to the children.
Acting under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, a bench of the Commission headed by Member Priyank Kanoongo observed that the allegations, on the face of it, appeared to involve violations of the children’s human rights. The Commission has directed the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Eluru, to conduct an inquiry into the allegations and submit an Action Taken Report within seven days.
According to the complaint placed before the Commission, the case dates back to 2020 when the West Godavari Child Welfare Committee (CWC) reportedly ordered an inquiry into allegations that a pastor and his wife had administered country-made drugs to two minor children during proceedings concerning their custody and welfare. The complaint alleged that the children subsequently suffered mental disturbance and that the matter attracted provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
The complainant further alleged that despite a CWC probe order issued on 8 January 2020, and a subsequent notice issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on 17 February 2020, authorities failed to furnish a proper Action Taken Report. It was also alleged that repeated attempts to obtain information through the Right to Information Act were unsuccessful, leading to suspicions that material facts had been suppressed and that influential individuals were being protected.
The complaint submitted to the NHRC stated that district authorities had failed to provide details regarding the investigation, findings, prosecution status, or departmental action allegedly taken in the matter. It further sought intervention by the Commission, including directions for a comprehensive status report from district authorities and an impartial investigation into the allegations.
The NHRC, while not expressing any conclusion on the merits of the allegations, noted that the allegations raised concerns relating to the rights and welfare of minor children and warranted examination. The Commission has therefore sought a detailed report from the Eluru district administration and police authorities for further consideration of the matter.
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