A complaint has been lodged with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) concerning alleged illegal detentions and rights abuses by Uttar Pradesh Police following protests by factory workers and migrant laborers in Noida over minimum wage issues. The plea, filed by Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R., expresses concerns over the reported detention of over 1,000 individuals, including around 350 juveniles, within a few days, particularly from the Kasna area. Workers in Noida have been demonstrating since early April for higher wages, currently ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month, due to increased living costs.
The complaint acknowledges sporadic incidents of violence during the protests but criticizes the police response as “indiscriminate, excessive, and in blatant disregard of constitutional safeguards.” It alleges that many detainees, including innocent workers, children, shoppers, and bystanders, were picked up without proper justification. The petition claims that arrests were made directly from factories, sometimes allegedly at the behest of employers, during work hours, and without informing families or providing legal grounds for detention. Over 1,000 individuals, including approximately 350 juveniles, were reportedly detained or arrested within a short period, with many innocent bystanders apprehended without lawful justification.
The complaint further alleges that detainees were held under provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, including Section 170, without the issuance of arrest memos, communication of grounds of arrest, or production before a magistrate within the constitutionally mandated 24-hour period. The actions are said to violate Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution and contravene judgments in D.K. Basu and Joginder Kumar cases. The complaint also accuses authorities of denying detainees access to legal representation and obstructing lawyers trying to provide assistance.
Advocate Chandran’s representation calls for an independent inquiry into the alleged illegal detentions and the immediate release of all unlawfully held persons, especially minors. The plea emphasizes the need for urgent intervention to address the detention of juveniles without following juvenile justice procedures and hindering legal aid efforts, which it deems as serious human rights violations. It also seeks disclosure of detainee lists, accountability for officials at fault, compensation for affected families facing wage loss and financial exploitation, and systemic reforms to protect labor rights and ensure fair wage practices.
The petition alleges that vulnerable families were misled into paying sums exceeding Rs 5,000 per detainee under false promises of securing bail. It urges the NHRC and NCPCR to intervene promptly to protect the constitutional rights of workers, juveniles, and economically vulnerable communities impacted by the crackdown.
