The National Human Rights Commission – NHRC has issued a notice to the Delhi government for failing to protect the rights of 21 labourers from the occupational disease caused due to inhaling of silica in dust. In a statement issued in New Delhi, the NHRC has given six weeks time to the Chief Secretary to explain as to why the victims of silicosis, a disease which affects lungs due to inhaling of silica dust, be not recommended monetary relief.

The Commission had earlier been approached by an NGO, which brought the cases of 44 persons working in the mines in Lal Kuan area, to its notice. Delhi government, initially, had denied any case of silicosis in the capital.However, the report submitted by the committee constituted by the NHRC in this regard confirmed that 21 persons had evidence of silicosis or silico tuberculosis.

The Commission said that it has observed that a case of violation of human rights of the victims, who were alleged to be suffering from silicosis.