The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging that minor children were endangered during the 'Chalo Sansad' protest in New Delhi, with the complaint specifically claiming that a 12-year-old girl sustained a head injury during the demonstration. The commission has directed three authorities to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.

Notices Issued to Three Authorities

A Bench presided over by NHRC Member Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Delhi government; the Secretary, Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY); and the Delhi Commissioner of Police. All three have been directed to inquire into the allegations and file their responses within the stipulated two-week period.

The action has been initiated under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which empowers the apex human rights body to probe alleged violations of human rights.

What the Complaint Alleged

According to the complaint, minor children were exposed to danger during the protest held on Monday, with a 12-year-old girl reportedly suffering a head injury. The complainant sought the NHRC's intervention on multiple fronts: immediate rescue and medical treatment for the child, her production before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) as mandated by law, identification of the adult who brought the child to the protest site, and appropriate action under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The complaint further sought action if any authority was found to have manhandled the child. Notably, it also alleged that information circulated on social media platform X by journalist Sourav Das may have been false or misleading, urging the NHRC to direct legal action — including an FIR — against him and the platform if the allegations were substantiated.

NHRC's Directions to Authorities

After examining the complaint, the NHRC observed that the allegations, prima facie, appear to involve violations of the child's human rights. The commission directed concerned authorities to immediately rescue the child, ensure necessary medical treatment, and produce her before the Child Welfare Committee as required under law.

It further directed authorities to identify the person who brought the child to the protest and initiate proceedings under the Juvenile Justice Act. The NHRC also ordered that if any authority is found to have manhandled the child, appropriate proceedings be initiated against them.

On the social media angle, the commission directed that if the information circulated on X by Sourav Das is found to be false or misleading, immediate legal action — including registration of an FIR — be taken against him and the platform, with a detailed ATR submitted within two weeks.

Delhi Police Contests the Claims

Amid the controversy, Delhi Police issued a clarification on social media, describing as 'false' the claims circulating online that a 12-year-old girl suffered a head injury and that 40 to 50 other people sustained head injuries during the protest.

'This information is false. The claims being circulated in the posts are not true. Please do not spread or amplify false or misleading information,' Delhi Police said in a fact-check post on X.

What Happens Next

With the NHRC's two-week deadline now running, the Delhi government's social welfare department, MeitY, and Delhi Police are each required to submit independent action taken reports. Depending on the findings, the commission could escalate proceedings or direct further remedial action — including legal steps against individuals or platforms found to have spread misinformation about the protest.