Today, On 6th January, The NHRC asked Bihar’s Chief Secretary to “take appropriate action” in the case where a BPSC aspirant was slapped. Referring to a viral video of the incident, the NHRC said that Singh’s actions were “not justified.” The commission stressed the importance of holding those responsible accountable. The directive aims to ensure a proper and fair investigation.
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) instructed the Chief Secretary of Bihar to “take appropriate action” against Patna’s District Magistrate, Chandrashekhar Singh, who was filmed slapping a Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirant during a protest on December 13.
The aspirant was part of a group of students protesting an alleged question paper leak at a center in Patna.
Supreme Court advocate Vivek Kumar lodged a complaint with the NHRC against Singh, claiming that the incident caused distress among citizens, particularly those peacefully protesting to voice their concerns.
The complaint stated,
“The use of physical force by a high-ranking official against peaceful protesters is a grave violation of human rights and the principles of justice and fairness.”
Kumar urged the Commission to intervene and take swift and fair action to uphold citizens’ fundamental rights.
However, the NHRC noted,
“There is nothing on the petition to show the name or address of the said victim BPSC aspirant. A review of the video available in the media shows the officer in a blue jacket (allegedly the district magistrate) attempting to manage the crowd. During the process, there was an altercation with one of the protesters, and the officer used mild force with his arm to control the aspirant. As such, it appears to be a matter related to maintaining law and order, for which a district magistrate is duty-bound.”
Consequently, the NHRC closed the case based on these observations.
In response, the district magistrate stated he had no intention to harm any candidate and clarified that his intervention was solely to restore order.
The BPSC aspirant slapping case refers to an incident in Bihar involving a candidate preparing for the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exams. A viral video showed an aspirant being slapped by a senior official, reportedly in connection with a disagreement during the examination process or related procedures.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognizance of the matter, calling the actions of the accused “not justified at all.” The case has drawn attention to the treatment of aspirants and the accountability of those in power.