Panel asks govt. to pay compensation for delay in procuring death certificate

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Monday requested the Tamil Nadu authorities to pay a compensation of ₹50,000 to a lady who was not supplied with the death certificate of her daughter.

During the listening to, it got here to gentle that the girl died on September 5, 2018, however the death was registered solely on December 29, 2020. The SHRC additionally really useful that the compensation sum be recovered from the village administrative officer (VAO), who was accountable for the delay.

SHRC member A. Chittaranjan Mohandoss additionally really useful initiating departmental motion towards VAO Venkatesh Prabhu of Vandalur village. The Commission really useful the State authorities to difficulty directions to all Collectors to be sure that such certificates are supplied to candidates on time.

In her grievance, V. Selvi of Vandalur mentioned Revenue Department officers intentionally failed to present her with the death certificate of her daughter Mathangi, who died beneath suspicious circumstances allegedly due to the harassment and cruelty meted out to her by her in-laws.

While a felony case had been registered towards Mathangi’s in-laws, a case moved by her mom (complainant earlier than the SHRC) was pending earlier than the Madras High Court. The complainant had been working from pillar to submit to get her daughter’s death certificate.

The respondent additionally introduced his facet of the argument. After listening to arguments from each side, the SHRC member mentioned regardless of the orders handed by the Tahsildar and the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) on October 22, 2018, and November 9, 2019, the VAO didn’t register the death.

Mathangi’s death was registered solely on December 29, 2020.

“The VAO failed to do his mandated duty and the complainant was unnecessarily harassed for two long years. There is no justification for this dereliction of duty. The petitioner was caused untold harassment and in her desperation had approached the Tahsildar, the RDO and the Hon’ble High Court. Even the order of the Tahsildar was disregarded by the respondent and there was an undue delay to register the death of the petitioner’s daughter. This Commission is of the view that the action of the respondent is a deliberate action resulting in gross violation of human rights,” it famous.