The Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has delivered a significant verdict, ordering the state government to pay a compensation of one lakh rupees to a farmer and his nephew from Tenkasi district. The compensation is for the human rights violations they suffered at the hands of a police sub-inspector who illegally intervened in a civil land dispute.
Commission's Directive and Action Against Officer
In a decisive order, SHRC member V Kannadasan directed the state to pay ₹50,000 each to the complainant, T Murugesan, and his nephew, M Thangaselvan. The commission also granted liberty to the government to recover this compensation amount from the then Sub-Inspector of Pavoorchatram Police Station, S Govindaraj. Furthermore, the panel recommended initiating disciplinary proceedings against the officer for his misconduct.
The commission firmly held that SI Govindaraj violated the fundamental human rights of the two individuals by unlawfully meddling in a civil dispute and failing to act on their legitimate complaints of assault. This ruling underscores the accountability of public officials.
Background of the Land Dispute and Police Harassment
The case has its roots in a 2012 agreement. According to Murugesan, he leased agricultural land and invested effort in developing it for jasmine cultivation. A dispute later erupted with the landowner over vacating the property. The situation escalated when the landowner allegedly tried to damage the crops.
Despite Murugesan's repeated complaints to the police, no action was taken. Shockingly, the farmer alleged that instead of helping, Sub-Inspector Govindaraj threatened him, pressured him to vacate the land, and took sides in the civil matter. The harassment peaked in April 2023 when Murugesan claimed he was illegally detained at the police station.
Subsequent Assault and Twisted Police Action
The ordeal continued in November 2023. Murugesan and his nephew Thangaselvan sustained injuries during a clash related to the collection of donations for a local temple. They were admitted to a hospital, and their injuries were medically documented.
However, the police again refused to register a case based on their complaint. In a twist, a criminal case was registered against Murugesan and Thangaselvan based on a counter-complaint. They were arrested shortly after being discharged from the hospital. Fortunately, the jurisdictional magistrate released them on bail on the same day.
The SHRC's order highlights a serious failure in policing and serves as a reminder that the machinery of the state cannot be weaponized against citizens in personal or civil disputes. The directive to recover the compensation from the erring officer sets a strong precedent for personal accountability.
