New Delhi, May 7: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has requested a report from the Himachal Pradesh government regarding the serious issue of tuberculosis (TB) affecting 19 female students at a nursing college in Shimla. This request follows a media report alleging that these students contracted TB while residing in the college hostel.
An official disclosed that the NHRC took suo motu cognizance of the media report and issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, demanding a detailed report within two weeks.
Recent inspections of the campus revealed several serious deficiencies in the hostel management, including issues related to cleanliness and overall operational standards. Despite these findings, no corrective measures were implemented, leading to the students’ health crisis.
The NHRC remarked that if the claims made in the media report are accurate, it constitutes a severe violation of human rights.
The media report published on May 2 highlighted various shortcomings based on inspections conducted on March 31 and April 17.
According to the NHRC statement, students residing in the hostel are forced to live in overcrowded, damp, and unsanitary conditions, where hygiene facilities are grossly inadequate. The quality of food provided is poor, lacking essential nutritional elements. Allegedly, students are not permitted to rest even when ill and are compelled to work as ‘hospital staff’ during holidays.
In a separate case, an official noted that the NHRC has also requested a report from the Jharkhand government and the district police chief within two weeks. This report pertains to the recent death of a 19-year-old female inmate at a remand home in the Charaki Pahari area of Deoghar district.
The NHRC took cognizance of a media report published on May 2, which mentioned the suspicious circumstances surrounding the inmate’s death. The exact cause of her death remains unknown.
The commission stated that if the allegations in the media report are true, it represents a serious human rights violation. Notices have been issued to the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand and the Superintendent of Police in Deoghar, demanding a comprehensive report within two weeks.
According to a media report from May 4, when the inmate’s condition suddenly deteriorated, staff at the remand home rushed her to Deoghar Sadar Hospital, where she later died during treatment.
A statement indicated that allegedly, since January 1, 2026, five inmates have died in this remand home, raising concerns about its safety and management.
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