The National Human Rights Commission has directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to provide a relief of Rs.3 lakh each to the families of eight workers who were killed in a blast at a cracker factory in Saharanpur on October 18, 2004.
The Commission directed that the State Chief Secretary submit compliance report along with proof of payment within six weeks.
In the explosion that rocked the cracker factory functioning from the godown of Om Babu Transport Company on Rakesh Cinema Road in Saharanpur, 11 workers were killed while two sustained injuries. Following a complaint, the Commission took up the case and perused the reports of the authorities.
It observed that the District Magistrate as well as the Commissioner appeared to have forgotten to protect the workers’ life under the relevant provisions of the Factories Act and gave no relief to their families, leaving them at the mercy of the employer.
A show-cause notice was served and the UP Government in its reply stated that dependents of three out of the 11 deceased had been given Rs.8.62 lakh as compensation. The Commission felt that it was the obligation of the State to protect the life of people, and since the authorities concerned were negligent in protecting the human rights of the workers, the State must pay monetary relief to the families of the eight deceased.
However, when no response was received from the UP Government despite three reminders, the Commission presumed that they had nothing to say in the matter and recommended the monetary relief.
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