NHRC asks Maha govt to pay 50K to girls held over FB post

The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday directed Maharashtra government to pay Rs 50,000 each to the two girls who were arrested over a Facebook post after the death of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, saying their detention was ‘illegal’.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, the commission has held that the detention of the girls was in violation of freedom of speech and expression of views guaranteed in the Constitution and asked the state to pay the compensation or face ‘coercive’ action.

The Commission, after enquiry, observed that the comments of the girls did not indicate any malicious intentions to hurt the feelings of any class or religion or religious beliefs and said the two were arrested because of the ‘over reaction’ of the police for which the State is prima facie responsible.

NHRC has reiterated its recommendations in yet another reminder that the Maharashtra government pay Rs 50,000 each to the two girls, who, it held, were illegally detained by the police following a facebook post after the death of Balasaheb Thackeray.

Having received no response to its notice and reminders to show cause why monetary relief should not be paid to the victims of human rights violation, the Commission, in its latest direction, has asked the Chief Secretary of the State to submit the compliance report along with the proof of payment within four weeks.

‘Failing which, it may be constrained to take recourse to coercive process under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993,’ the statement said.

The Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of the issue on the basis of media reports carried on the 21 November, 2012 that two girls were arrested on the 19 November, 2012 on the ground that they had committed offence under Section 295 (a) IPC (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion) Section 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of IPC was subsequently invoked by the investigating Inspector.