The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) disposed of 73 cases during a two-day camp sitting and open hearing in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 2–3 September, with compensation exceeding ₹3.7 crore reported across matters resolved during the proceedings. The hearings, held at the National Forensic Sciences University, marked one of the Commission's most substantive outstation sittings in recent years.

Key Developments

The Full Commission — comprising NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian and members Justice (Dr) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi and Vijaya Bharathi Sayani — heard 45 cases on 2 September and closed 27 after reviewing party submissions and compliance reports. A separate Division Bench comprising Sarangi and Sayani heard 57 cases on 3 September, disposing of 46.

On the second day, Justice Ramasubramanian also separately heard 27 cases concerning alleged bonded labour in the presence of the Gujarat Labour Secretary and district magistrates from the districts concerned.

Cases of Custodial Abuse and Industrial Deaths

Among the more serious matters, the Commission considered cases involving custodial deaths, police excesses, and civic negligence resulting in fatalities. In one case, a woman was allegedly arrested without proper notice and detained unlawfully; the Commission recommended compensation of ₹7.5 lakh.

Justice Ramasubramanian, speaking at a media briefing after the hearing, said the woman had subsequently been released on bail and the police case closed for lack of evidence, but added: 'The fact that she had suffered in jail cannot be wiped out.'

Industrial accident cases from across Gujarat were also taken up. In Bharuch, families of five workers killed in a fire and explosion at a chemical factory received compensation. At a chemical plant in Dahej, four workers died after inhaling toxic gases; their families received compensation totalling more than ₹2 crore. In Ahmedabad, the Commission heard a case involving the deaths of three workers after a large advertising hoarding collapsed — criminal proceedings have been initiated, while compensation details remain pending.

Other Matters Addressed

The Commission also took up a case in which a child was reportedly taken away by a dog and never recovered, recommending compensation for the family. Complaints concerning school infrastructure failures and the absence of cremation grounds for Scheduled Caste communities were also heard, with remedial action directed.

The Division Bench disposed of matters in which proof of payment of ₹27 lakh was submitted as compensation to the next of kin of a deceased person. In remaining matters, the Commission sought further reports from authorities.

Civil Society Engagement

The two-day sitting also included structured interactions with human rights defenders, NGOs, and civil society organisations, followed by a meeting with senior Gujarat state government officials on human rights protection and implementation. The Commission stated that the camp sitting was designed to examine pending complaints directly, assess authority compliance, and provide relief where violations had been established.

With several industrial safety and custodial abuse cases still under review, further compliance reports are expected to be filed before the Commission in the coming weeks.