Annual Report 2008-2009 appointed a Commission of Enquiry headed by Justice Shri R.J. Kochar, a retired Judge of the High Court of Mumbai. The Commission of Enquiry found that the bridge was only a temporary foot bridge and it had outlived its life. The NHRC indicted the Administration of Goa for negligence in maintenance, repairs and renovation of the bridge. 4.159 On consideration of the report, the Commission recommended to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to pay a sum of Rs. 2, 00,000 each as monetary relief to the next of kin of the victims. 4.160 On receipt of the compliance report the case was closed by the NHRC. 37. Death of Nutan Kumari due to Beating-up by Teacher (Case No.1633/4/2005-2006) 4.161 Nutan Kumari, an 11 year old girl was studying in Class VI in a Government School at Samastipur, Bihar. She had a quarrel with one of her class mates. When the class teacher came to know about this, she pushed the child on the ground in a violent and brutal manner. The child sustained grievous injuries that eventually led to her death. 4.162 The NHRC observed that inflicting of corporal punishment to children definitely amounts to violation of their human rights. Therefore, in order to put an end to the practice of corporal punishment in schools, it is the duty of the teachers to treat all children with affection and compassion. The State too has a duty to properly educate the teachers in this regard. It thus directed the State Government to pay a sum of Rs. 2, 00,000 as monetary relief to Nutan’s family on account of cruel treatment meted out to her. 4.163 On receipt of the compliance report the case was closed by the NHRC. 38. Death of a Person and Other 100 Persons Falling Ill due to Chlorine Gas Leakage from a Water Filtration Plant in Sambalpur, Orissa (Case No. 307/18/2005-2006) 4.164 The case relates to death of a person and over 100 persons falling ill due to leakage of chlorine gas from a water filtration plant in Sambalpur, Orissa on the night of 2 September 2005. 4.165 Pursuant to the notice issued by the NHRC, a report was received from the District Magistrate & Collector, Sambalpur. It was communicated in the report that on receipt of information about the leakage of chlorine gas, the Additional District Magistrate and Assistant Fire Officer of Sambalpur were asked to rush to the spot for relief and rescue operations. Concurrently, the medical teams were asked to prepare themselves for the treatment of the patients. The leakage point in the chlorine gas cylinder was sealed at about 12.40 p.m. The people were also asked to keep wet cloth on their faces to minimize the effect of chlorine gas in the area through the public address system. 54

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