Healing Wounds, Empowering Voices

  NHRC of India Reaffirms State Accountability in Custodial Deaths: A Landmark Step for Human Rights The National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to upholding the dignity of every individual, especially those most vulnerable under State custody. In a recent case (No. 1016/18/19/2023-AD), the Commission issued a Show Cause Notice to the Government of Odisha following the custodial death of Ravindra Meher , a 30-year-old convict who died by suicide in the Special Sub-Jail, Boudh, on 8 April 2023. The NHRC’s observations leave no ambiguity: The State carries the ultimate responsibility for the safety and well-being of all individuals in its custody. Custodial deaths signal systemic negligence , particularly when psychiatric patients are left without adequate supervision. The principle of vicarious liability places accountability squarely on the State for acts of omission or commission by its officials. The...

 At the PVCHR office, Lenin Raghuvanshi honors survivors of custodial violence, highlighting empathy and emotion as part of the healing process through Testimonial Therapy . National Human Rights Commission Calls for Additional Reports on Alleged Police Encounter in Kaushambi 📍 Case No. 26139/24/4/2023-AFE 🗓️ Date: 21 August 2025 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has once again directed the Superintendent of Police, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, to furnish crucial missing reports in the case of Vijay Soni , a young man who allegedly died in a staged police encounter. The complaint was filed by Lenin Raghuvanshi , a well-known human rights defender from Varanasi, and supported by Vijay’s mother, Smt. Anju Devi . 📖 Background of the Case According to the complaint, on 10 September 2023 , police personnel arrived at Vijay Soni’s house and brutally assaulted him. When his mother tried to intervene, she was abused and threatened. Vijay was taken away and went missing from ...