The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has taken suo-motu cognisance in a case and and ordered probe into allegations against the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) Rangia.
The Commission comprising its Chairperson Dr Justice Aftab H Saikia and Member Tarun Phookan ordered that the probe
be conducted against SDO Dr Karuna Kumari by Assam Government Principal Secretary Personnel (A) Department within a month.
The case followed newspaper reports appearing in local vernacular dailies on July 5 relating to the alleged
autocratic and tyrannical conduct and activities of the SDO towards the employees in the office, particularly, one Nripen Kalita, one Kameshwar Rabha and the SDO’s Confidential Assistant Sanjay Deka.
According to the media reports the employees of that office had come out en-masse and staged a protest against SDO
Kumari demanding her transfer from Rangia within two days from July 4.
Nripen Kalita and Kameshwar Rabha had reportedly availed medical leave but after they rejoined their duties the
SDO allegedly abused them on the plea that they had availed the leave falsely.
An AHRC press release today said Nripen Kalita was allegedly compelled by her to be confined in a small
unhygienic room for which he fell ill and fainted to be admitted to Rangia Civil Hospital before being shifted
later for better treatment to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital, where his condition was stated to be critical.
Kameshwar Rabha was on the other hand made by the SDO to keep standing in front of the office as punishment, while
Sanjay Deka who was reportedly being mentally tortured by the Civil SDO suddenly fell ill and had to be taken for medical treatment to Rangia Civil Hospital, the AHRC quoted the media reports.
—————-PTI