Rajendra Mushahary case; NHRC's stricture against Mahanta

NEW DELHI, April 24: In an unprecendented act, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today passed strictures against Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, blasting him for trying to belittle the Commission without understanding the Commission's role and functions. For a Chief Minister who is facing polls next month, the NHRC's ruling can come as a blow to his reputation and his sense of justice. The NHRC has condemned the Chief Minister for questioning its working. The issue related to shielding of a Minister in his cabinet, Rajendra Mushahary, accused of raping a minor girl. The full Commission met yesterday to consider the Chief Minister's recent statements that the Commission had crossed its purview by attempting to pass on opinion on a sub-judice matter. The NHRC was constrained to observe that 'if the media reports were correct the Chief Minister has completely missed the point made by the Commission and he had made observation which depicted lack of appreciation of the NHRC's role and function,' it remarked. The NHRC, reiterating its ruling on the issue, said the Chief Minister's action in allowing the accused to continue as a Minister was 'erosion of the rule of law and serious violation of human rights.' The NHRC referring to Chief Minister's comment that it was a sub-judice matter, opined that Mahanta had overlooked the point that the Court was concerned with the trial of the offence and hence there was no violation of law in questioning the propriety of continuance of a prime accused as a Minister, as it was not under consideration of any Court of law. The NHRC has forwarded the copy of the proceedings to the State Governor and the State Chief Secretary. The NHRC's hard-hitting comments on the Chief Minister may spell trouble for him, as it may just as well become an election issue. The Chief Minister in total disregard to the controversy surrounding the issue even re-nominated the Minister, that too within days of the NHRC's rulings. The Chief Minister has been insisting that the state government would wait for DNA reports before taking any action. The NHRC's contention, on the other hand is that the Minister was found prime facie guilty and has been named an accused by the police investigating the case. The Minister was accused of raping the school going girl and impregnating her. The NHRC took up the case in response to a complaint lodged by the victim's mother.