Thu Jan 30 12:37:00 IST 2025: ## Delhi High Court Upholds NHRC’s Authority, Orders Compensation in Fake Encounter Case

**New Delhi, January 30, 2025** – The Delhi High Court has ruled that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is not a mere recommendatory body, but possesses binding authority. The court’s decision came in a case concerning the alleged fake encounter killing of Manoj Singh by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2006.

The court heard a petition filed by Manoj Singh’s parents, who sought a CBI inquiry and the enforcement of the NHRC’s 2014 order awarding ₹5 lakh compensation to the deceased’s legal heirs. While the court declined the request for a CBI inquiry, it affirmed the NHRC’s compensation order, noting that the Home Ministry had not challenged it for years.

Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Amit Sharma emphasized that Human Rights Commissions must be “fierce defenders” of human rights, not “toothless tigers.” They clarified that while the government can seek judicial review of NHRC recommendations, the recommendations themselves are binding.

The case stems from a 2006 incident where five members of the Ayub/Aslam gang were killed in an alleged fake encounter. Manoj Singh’s father, Kiran Singh, argued that his son, who ran a provision store, had no criminal record and was acquitted in two cases he was involved in. The NHRC initially ordered a CBI inquiry but later directed the compensation payment.

The High Court’s judgment reinforces the NHRC’s power and underscores its crucial role in safeguarding human rights. The court’s order ensures that the legal heirs of Manoj Singh will finally receive the compensation mandated by the NHRC.

Read More