Team Herald

PANJIM: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended that the PWD (Water Supply Division) forthwith comply with the order of the Primary Health Centre, Chimbel and release water connection to a house occupied by A Kerkar of Chimbel within the next 30 days.

The complainant had approached the Commission after the PWD assistant engineer failed to release water connection to the house occupied by Kerkar even after the medical officer of the Primary Health Centre, Chimbel had passed the order dated October 18, 2021, under the Goa Public Health 1985, directing the respondent to release the connection, as essential on health ground.

The respondent in his reply indicated that the file was processed for release of the water connection but they received a letter from one Mangaldas Gauns stating that the eviction proceedings are presently going on in the Civil Court at Panjim and that the release of the water connection is kept in abeyance.

But relying on a Supreme Court judgment, the three-member Commission comprising Chairman Justice U V Bakre and Members Judge Desmond D’Costa and Pramod Kamat stated that the pendency of the civil dispute is not a ground to deprive the complainant of water, which is a necessity.

The Commission found that the respondent had violated the human rights of the complainant by neglecting to comply with the order of the medical officer of PHC, Chimbel and that in the interest of public health and to protect their human rights, it was necessary to issue recommendation under Section 18 (a) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

The Commission further said that the copy of the inquiry report is sent to the PWD assistant engineer calling for his comments including the action taken or proposed to be taken within a period of 30 days or latest by September 16, 2022, in terms of Section 18 (e) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.