With reference to the powers used by the National Human Rights Commission, India after the April 19, 2026 firecracker factory explosion in Virudhunagar, consider the following statements:\n1. NHRC took suo motu cognizance of the incident based on media reports of the deaths and injuries.\n2. NHRC issued notice to the Government of Tamil Nadu seeking a detailed report on safety compliance, factory licensing and rehabilitation of victims.\nWhich of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. On 19 April 2026, an explosion occurred at a private firecracker manufacturing unit in the Kattanarpatti area of Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu. On 24 April 2026, NHRC took suo motu cognizance of a media report that at least 18 workers had died and six others were injured. NHRC noted that, if the report was true, the incident raised serious human-rights concerns for the victims. Statement 2 is incorrect. NHRC sent notices to the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu and the Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar, seeking a detailed report within two weeks. The requested report was to cover the injured persons' health, the investigation and any compensation paid to the next of kin of the deceased and to the injured. It did not ask for details on safety compliance, factory licensing or rehabilitation.

Why the other options are wrong

• (B) It accepts statement 2 alone, but NHRC did not ask for details on safety compliance, factory licensing or rehabilitation.
• (C) It rejects statement 1, although NHRC did take suo motu cognizance of the media report concerning the workers' deaths and injuries.
• (D) It treats both statements as correct, although statement 2 adds safety compliance, factory licensing and rehabilitation to the notice; none of those subjects was requested.

Concept

This tests how NHRC and similar statutory rights bodies exercise their powers in practice, especially the use of suo motu cognizance and notices after reported rights violations. Such questions matter in RAS because governance answers often depend on which authority was used and exactly what information an official notice requested.

Source

• National Human Rights Commission, India

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