T’puram: State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the excise commissioner to conduct a preliminary discreet inquiry to verify complaints related to illicit liquor before carrying out house searches.SHRC chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas issued the direction after considering a complaint filed by wife of a govt employee from Neyyattinkara, who is hearing- and speech-impaired. She alleged that excise officials conducted a search at their house in violation of guidelines issued by the excise commissioner.The panel noted that the excise commissioner had issued Circular No. EXC 35/2021 after receiving complaints that false information was being given against innocent persons. The circular requires officials to verify the genuineness of such information before conducting searches, SHRC said.The excise commissioner informed the panel that the inspection was conducted based on information given in person by a woman from the neighbourhood at the Tirupuram excise range office on Jan 3, 2025. The officer also informed the panel that the woman’s son was an accused in a case involving an alleged attempt to sexually assault the daughter of the complainant.According to the excise report, one of the officials in the inspection team recognised the complainant’s husband and the team returned without conducting a search. However, the complainant alleged that the officials woke up the couple while they were sleeping at night and humiliated them, and that the excise team had acted on the neighbour’s false information.Justice Thomas directed the excise commissioner to obtain an explanation from the officials of the Tirupuram Excise Office and take appropriate action based on their response.The Commission also told the complainant that she could approach the Neyyattinkara deputy superintendent of police with a complaint against the woman who allegedly provided false information. It directed the DSP to take stringent action if the complainant faced any threats.
