Bhubaneswar: Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) recommended a compensation amount of Rs 10 lakh to family members of Harekrishna Sahu, who died while taking part in a state-conducted police recruitment process on Jan 22, 2017.The commission passed this order on Jan 27 this year after hearing a petition filed by the deceased’s father, Muralidhar Sahu, from Meramundali in Dhenkanal district. According to the petitioner, Harekrishna, aged about 20 years, appeared in the recruitment process for appointment to the post of constable in the 9th IR Battalion (Special) on Jan 22, 2017.“During the physical endurance test comprising a 1,600m run conducted at ground-2 of OSAP (6th Battalion), Cuttack, the candidate collapsed on the ground immediately after completing the run at about 5.23 pm. The collapse occurred within the recruitment premises while the candidate was under the supervision and control of the police establishment conducting the test and subsequently died on Jan 23, 2017, during the course of treatment,” said the petition.The commission issued notices to the DG police and all authorities concerned. The report submitted by the police stated there was no negligence and that there was no provision for compensation in such death cases.However, based on the police report, post-mortem report and various legal precedents, the commission held that ‘strict liability’ applies to the state govt and the deceased’s family is entitled to compensation.“The commission recommended that the state govt should pay a sum of Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the deceased’s parents. The amount shall be paid within eight weeks from the date of receipt of this order, together with interest at the rate of 6% per annum with effect from Jan 23, 2017 till the date of actual payment, and the daughter of the complainant may be considered for employment in the police establishment on compassionate grounds,” read the OHRC order.To prevent such incidents in future, the Commission directed mandatory pre-medical fitness screening of candidates appearing in physical tests, deployment of ambulances with life-support facilities and qualified medical personnel at recruitment venues, framing and strict enforcement of standard operating procedures for medical emergencies, coordination with nearby govt hospitals, training and sensitisation of recruitment staff, and fixation of accountability in cases of deviation from prescribed protocols.The home department and DGP were asked to submit a compliance report within 3 months of receiving this order.
