The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Delhi Police, the Union Health Ministry, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) following allegations of harassment of whistleblowers in an internal recruitment inquiry. The NHRC has taken cognizance under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, stating that the allegations suggest possible violations of human rights, freedom of speech, dignity, and privacy. Whistleblowers raised concerns over irregularities and corruption in the FSSAI recruitment process, alleging disproportionate action against them despite acting in the public interest.
According to the complainants, they shared the internal committee report’s findings in good faith, without personal imputations, but faced actions like the registration of an FIR and defamation on social media. The whistleblowers claimed that their fundamental rights under the Constitution were violated, including the right to free speech, privacy, and dignity. The NHRC observed that the allegations raised significant human rights issues and directed a detailed inquiry by the concerned authorities.
The NHRC instructed the FSSAI CEO to provide a detailed response addressing various aspects, including the circumstances of the FIR filing and the nature of allegations. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Delhi, was directed to safeguard the whistleblowers’ identity and safety as per the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was asked to clarify actions taken against officials involved in the internal inquiry and the legal basis for the FIR registration related to confidential documents.
