NHRC orders Rs 10-lakh `interim relief' for ISRO scientist
KOTA NEELIMA

NEW DELHI, MARCH 16: I am very happy that I have been vindicated,'' said Indian Space Research Organisation scientist Nambi Narayanan after he was awarded Rs 10 lakh as `immediate interim relief' by the National Human Rights Commission as compensation for torture and human right violations during the spy case investigations.

Narayanan, a senior scientist with ISRO, was implicated for espionage, along with five others, in October 1994. Two years later, accepting the final closure report of the CBI which was investigating the case, the Chief Judicial Magistrate discharged Narayanan and others.

Besides observing that the espionage charges were baseless, the CBI report had also said that the accused were ``harassed and physically abused'' to extort confessions.

In 1998, the Supreme Court quashed a notification by the Kerala government for ``further investigation'' and passed strictures on it. Narayanan and others were awarded Rs 1 lakh.

Speaking to The Indian Express on his ordeal for six years, Narayanan says, ``The Supreme Court judgment had already justified my stand. Despite that, the people who were responsible for the incident kept saying things to the contrary.''

``I have always had a lot of faith in the judiciary. The various courts I have been to have given me great statisfaction,'' he says. ``But now the NHRC has endorsed the Supreme Court ruling for which I am very grateful,'' he says.

The NHRC has in its March 14 order said: ``...this is an unusual case of gross violation of human rights of a reputed scientist whose long and distinguished career in space research has been tarnished apart from the physical and mental torture to which he and his family were subjected.

``It is difficult to assess in precise terms the monetary compensation to which he is entitled,'' the order says.

``The Commission considers the sum of Rs 10 lakhs as appropriate `immediate interim relief' under Section 18 (3) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to be paid to the complainant by the Government of Kerala,'' the order says.

The Government would also have to report to the NHRC on the action taken against ``its delinquent officers as directed by the Commission on September 6, 1999.''

``I now believe that the system is fine and there is justice. This also shows that people who silently suffer can get justice,'' said Narayanan. ``It also sends across the message that people cannot make a mistake and lie that they did not.''

Narayanan has a pending civil suit for damages amounting to Rs 1 crore against the Kerala and Central governments. ``I am expecting the judgment in a couple of months,'' he says.

On the status of the compensation in case the courts decide to award the damages in the civil suit, the NHRC interim relief order says ``The amount of the immediate interim relief so awarded should be adjusted in the total compensation determined as payable in a proceeding like a civil suit so that the same amount is not paid over twice.''

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.