The Delhi High Court has ordered the NHRC to resolve within six weeks the complaint linked to social media allegations of rape and forced beef-eating against journalist Omar Rashid. Justice Sachin Datta emphasized speedy disposal, noting the complaint has been pending for five months.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to decide within six weeks the complaint pending before it concerning a social media post that accused journalist Omar Rashid of rape and forced beef-eating.
Earlier, the Court had asked for an action taken report (ATR) from the Delhi Police about the complaint filed against Rashid.
Justice Sachin Datta, while passing the order, said,
“The limited relief canvassed by the petitioner is that NHRC be directed to decide and dispose of the complaint. Considering the limited nature of the relief sought, the petition is disposed of with a request to NHRC to decide the complaint as expeditiously as possible and preferably within 6 weeks.”
The Court also granted Omar Rashid permission to seek the ATR and other replies submitted by the Delhi Police.
The judge added,
“As far as the supply of ATR/reply submitted by Delhi Police, the petitioner shall be entitled to make request to NHRC in this regard which shall be duly considered.”
With these directions, the Delhi High Court disposed of the petition.
During the hearing, Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC) Ashish Dixit appeared on behalf of the Delhi Police and informed the Court that the police had identified the woman who had made the allegations anonymously on social media.
He said that the woman was under genuine apprehension of being influenced and requested the Court to direct Rashid to provide an undertaking that he would not contact her either directly or indirectly.
The case is related to an anonymous social media post that carried serious allegations of rape and forced beef-eating against journalist Omar Rashid, who was associated with the news portal The Wire.
The NHRC had registered a complaint based on this post and directed the Delhi Police to file its ATR. Rashid then approached the Delhi High Court challenging the NHRC’s order.
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Before the Court, Rashid submitted that the NHRC complaint had been pending for five months, which had caused him professional and personal distress.
He told the Court,
“This person has destroyed my life. I am a celebrated journalist, I have been jobless for the past 5 months. This person has not come forward, no FIR has been registered. My prayer is very short, I just want a time-bound decision by the NHRC since the complaint has been pending for 5 months. I want a copy of the ATR.”
Rashid further said that he had voluntarily written to the NHRC offering to join the investigation as he was the “victim of the post.”
The social media post in question accused Rashid of raping and abusing the woman and alleged that he used his influence in Delhi’s “liberal” media circles to trap her.
According to the records, on May 23, 2025, the NHRC took cognisance of a complaint filed by a group named Sahyadri Rights Forum and directed the Delhi Police to submit an ATR.
The Commission had also noted that the woman had earlier complained to the management of The Wire and had sought details of actions taken under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act).
However, on June 9, the NHRC observed that the Delhi Police had not yet submitted the ATR despite its earlier directions.
Taking a strict view, the Commission stated,
“The Commission takes it seriously and directs its Registry to issue a reminder to the CP, New Delhi to submit the requisite action taken report to the Commission within a period of 2 weeks, failing which the Commission may initiate coercive process u/s 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.”
Since the NHRC did not take up the matter after June 9, Rashid approached the Delhi High Court, requesting that the Commission be instructed to give a time-bound decision on the complaint.
In the High Court proceedings, Central Government Standing Counsel Ramaswamy appeared for the NHRC, while CGSC Ashish Dixit represented the Delhi Police, and Advocate Shaurya Mittal appeared for Omar Rashid.
The Court ultimately disposed of the matter, emphasizing that the NHRC should decide the complaint within six weeks and that Rashid could request copies of the ATR and other related documents from the NHRC.
Case Title:
Omar Rashid v. National Human Rights Commission & Anr.
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