NHRC Questions Himachal Govt Over 19 Women Nursing Students 'Contracting TB'

(MENAFN- IANS) New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) Taking a strong view, the NHRC has sought a report from Himachal Pradesh after a media report alleged that 19 women students contracted tuberculosis in the hostel of a Nursing College in Shimla, an official said.

Taking suo motu cognisance of a media report over the alleged incident, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Himachal Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

Reportedly, during two recent inspections of the premises, serious deficiencies were observed in the management of the hostel, including sanitation and overall institutional functioning. However, no corrective measures were taken by the authorities, and as a result, the students contracted tuberculosis.

The Commission observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights.

The media report, carried on May 2, highlighted several shortcomings based on the two inspections of the institutions held on March 31 and April 17.

The students at the hostel face overcrowded, damp, and unhygienic living conditions with severely inadequate sanitation. Food quality is poor and lacks basic nutrition. They are reportedly denied rest during illness and forced to work as“hospital staff” even on holidays, an NHRC statement said.

In a separate case, the NHRC sought a report within two weeks from the Jharkhand government and the district police chief over the death of a 19-year-old woman inmate of a remand home in the Charki Pahadi area of the Deoghar district earlier this month, an official said.

The NHRC took suo motu cognisance of a media report about the death of a 19-year-old female inmate on May 2, allegedly under suspicious circumstances. The cause of her death is yet to be ascertained.

The NHRC observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights.

It issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, and the Superintendent of Police, Deogarh, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

According to the media report, carried on May 4, when the inmate's condition suddenly deteriorated, the Remand Home staff rushed her to the Deoghar Sadar Hospital, where she died during treatment.

Reportedly, five inmates of this Remand Home have died since January 1 2026, raising questions about its security and arrangements, said a statement.

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