Advocate knocks on NHRC door for action against IRTS officer

An advocate practising at Bombay High Court has submitted a complaint letter to the Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at New Delhi to take strict action against Swati Sinha (43), an officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) serving with the Central Railways.

Sinha had allegedly assaulted advocate Delilah Fernandez (45) on April 10 since she was not in favour of Fernandez being on the railway panel of advocates to fight cases on their behalf in the railway court. Fernandez was on the railway court premises at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSTM) when Sinha saw her and started shouting, which resulted in a heated argument between them.

According to the letter submitted by advocate Dipak Chattopadhyay to HL Datta, Former Chief Justice of India and present chairman of NHRC, on April 14 (a copy is available with the Free Press Journal), “As per the video, Swati Sinha was seen slapping and pushing advocate Fernandez. Fernandez was hurled across the floor at CSTM. The fight between the two women was recorded on a video shot by a witness. Sinha who is holding the position at Central Railway as deputy chief commercial manager has violated human rights by taking the law in her own hands. Strict action should be taken against Sinha for such misuse of power.”

NHRC has acknowledged the letter and taken cognisance of it.

“Every person has his/ her own dignity. How can someone attack an advocate in this manner in public glare? Nobody can take law in their own hands. How can someone just misuse her position of power and get away with it by a mere non-cognisable offence registered against her? There were witnesses who were present at the scene shamelessly watching the assault and shooting videos,” said Chattopadhyay.

A non-cognisable offence has been registered against Sinha.