A significant development has emerged in a case concerning the death of a 14-year-old disabled girl who was under institutional care in Telangana. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a serious view of the continued non-submission of enquiry reports by the District Magistrates of Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri and has issued Conditional Summons under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The summons arise from a complaint filed by A.S. Santhosh, General Secretary of the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), regarding the alleged unauthorized transfer of a minor child, her subsequent death under suspicious circumstances in 2021, and allegations of regulatory and institutional failures.
The matter is being examined by the NHRC under Case No. 149/36/11/2026-dh. According to the Commission’s proceedings dated 22 September 2026, the complaint concerns the death of a 14-year-old disabled girl who was placed under institutional care and later died while residing in a facility operated by an NGO known as Home for the Disabled. The Commission observed that the allegations raised in the complaint prima facie appear to involve violations of human rights and warrant detailed examination by the concerned authorities.
The background of the case dates back to 2021. According to records cited in the complaint, the minor girl, identified as Jahnavi, was initially sheltered at MV Foundation in Hyderabad. Pursuant to the directions of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Hyderabad, she was formally transferred on 17 March 2021 to Home for the Disabled located at Jeera, Secunderabad. The transfer was stated to have been made in accordance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
The complaint subsequently alleged that approximately three months later, officials associated with the institution shifted the child from the Secunderabad facility to another unit of the same organization located at Shamirpet in Medchal-Malkajgiri District. It was alleged that this transfer took place without obtaining mandatory approval from the Child Welfare Committee or the District Administration. According to the complainant, such a transfer violated prescribed child protection procedures and statutory safeguards applicable to children placed under institutional care.
Following the transfer, the child reportedly died under suspicious circumstances at the Shamirpet facility in June 2021. The circumstances surrounding the death subsequently became the subject of concern among child welfare authorities. According to the complaint submitted to the police by Smt. G. Shailaja, then Chairperson of the Hyderabad Child Welfare Committee, information was received that the girl had died at the Shamirpet unit. Upon inquiry, concerns reportedly emerged regarding the management of the case and the absence of official communication to the competent authorities.
A major aspect of the allegations relates to the handling of the child’s remains after death. The complaint states that the body of the deceased child was transported from Shamirpet to Bhoiguda in Secunderabad and cremated without informing either the Child Welfare Committee or the police authorities. The FIR further recorded concerns that the body’s cremation took place under circumstances that prevented proper preservation of potential forensic evidence. The complaint alleged that these actions raised serious questions regarding institutional accountability and compliance with mandatory procedures applicable in cases involving the death of a child under custodial or institutional care.
Another significant allegation concerns the non-availability of medical and health records. According to the complaint filed by the then CWC Chairperson, when officials visited the institution following the child’s death, they were unable to obtain the health records pertaining to the deceased child. The inability to produce these records was cited as one of the reasons for seeking police intervention and further investigation.
Based on the complaint, Zero FIR No. 01/2021 was registered on 7 June 2021 at Gandhinagar Police Station under Section 176(1)(A) Cr.P.C. The FIR was subsequently transferred to Shamirpet Police Station for further investigation. The complaint before the NHRC alleges that despite the registration of the FIR, the investigation did not result in adequate accountability and that the matter was effectively suppressed or diluted over time.
The complaint also raised concerns regarding the regulatory oversight of the institution involved. According to NGO Darpan records cited in the complaint, Home for the Disabled is a registered society. The complainant further pointed out that the organization possesses a Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, permitting it to receive foreign contributions. Despite the serious allegations surrounding the death of a minor girl and the registration of a police case in 2021, the organization’s FCRA registration was reportedly renewed in 2022 and remains valid until 2027. The complainant argued that this raises important questions regarding the effectiveness of the regulatory review mechanisms and the extent to which the incident was examined by the relevant authorities.
Seeking intervention in the matter, the Legal Rights Protection Forum approached the NHRC in February 2026. The organization requested an independent inquiry or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation into the circumstances of the child’s death. The complaint also sought examination of police records, medical records, cremation records, and administrative actions taken by authorities responsible for monitoring child-care institutions.
On 16 February 2026, the NHRC, through a Bench presided over by Priyank Kanoongo, took cognizance of the complaint under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The Commission directed the District Magistrates of Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri to enquire into the allegations and submit Action Taken Reports within two weeks. The Commission observed that the allegations, if true, raised serious concerns relating to the human rights of a vulnerable child who was under institutional protection.
When no reports were received, the Commission revisited the matter on 25 March 2026. Taking note of the non-compliance, NHRC issued reminders to both District Magistrates and directed submission of the reports within a further period of two weeks. The Commission additionally warned that failure to comply could result in the invocation of its powers under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, which grants the Commission powers akin to those of a civil court during inquiries.
Despite the original notice and subsequent reminder, the required reports were still not submitted. Consequently, on 22 September 2026, the NHRC adopted a stronger course of action. The Commission directed the issuance of Conditional Summons to the District Magistrates of Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The District Magistrates have been directed to appear before the Commission in person, or through authorized representatives fully conversant with the facts of the case, at 11:30 a.m. on 22 October 2026 at the NHRC headquarters in New Delhi. The Commission clarified that the requirement of personal appearance would stand dispensed with if the requisite enquiry reports are submitted on or before 15 October 2026.
The latest action by the NHRC marks a significant stage in the proceedings. The Commission’s intervention has brought renewed attention to questions concerning the transfer of a child between institutional facilities, the circumstances surrounding her death, the handling of medical and investigative records, institutional accountability, regulatory oversight, and the obligations of public authorities to respond to human rights inquiries. The forthcoming reports from the district administrations, or their appearance before the Commission, may play a crucial role in determining the future course of the case and addressing concerns surrounding the death of a minor girl who was under institutional care.
