Report encounter deaths in 48 hrs, NHRC tells J&K

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to henceforth intimate it about any custodial or encounter deaths within 24 and 48 hours of such incidents.

The panel said intimation guidelines applicable to the rest of the country would now be valid for the two UTs too following an amendment to the Protection of Human Rights Act in 2019.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary of J&K and the Commissioner Secretary of Ladakh, the NHRC asked them to comply with its instructions. Among them are sending requisite reports, including of post-mortem, videography and magisterial inquiry, in custodial and encounter deaths.

The commission said the erstwhile state of J&K was exempted from sending such intimations in view of protection provided to it on subjects mentioned on List II of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution (state subjects) in the Act.