The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has pulled up the Punjab government over its handling of a complaint alleging extra-judicial killings and custodial torture in the state.Taking serious note of the state government's response, the Commission has directed the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Secretary of the Home Department to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations and submit a fresh report within four weeks.The Commission expressed displeasure over the Punjab government's decision to forward a report prepared by the office of the Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, despite the allegations in the complaint being directed against the police chief himself. The NHRC clarified that it had specifically asked the state Home Department to examine the matter and submit a report, not the DGP's office.In its proceedings dated November 2, 2026, the Commission observed that the report submitted by the Punjab government did not comply with its directions issued on November 24, 2025.
It noted that the Secretary, Home Department, appeared not to have examined the matter before forwarding the report prepared by the DGP's office. Expressing serious concern over what it described as a lackadaisical approach by the Punjab Home Department, the Commission directed the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary to ensure an independent inquiry into the allegations.
It also instructed them to refrain from simply forwarding another report from the same department, which had already been the subject of the complaint.The NHRC has asked the Punjab government to submit the inquiry report within four weeks. It warned that failure to comply would compel the Commission to invoke its coercive powers under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The Commission has also directed that the additional or complete report be submitted by December 10, 2026, for further consideration.WHAT IS THE COMPLAINT ABOUT? The NHRC's proceedings stem from a complaint dated July 12, 2025, filed by Nikhil Saraf, a resident of Mohali, Punjab.
The Commission received the complaint through email on July 14, 2025.Saraf alleged that Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had been directing police officials to conduct extra-judicial killings, or 'encounters', as a measure of their professional assessment.The complaint referred to a journalist's social media post dated June 1, 2025, which included a screenshot of an alleged WhatsApp message from the DGP issuing such directives. It also cited several recent incidents of alleged extra-judicial killings and custodial torture across different districts of Punjab to highlight the seriousness of the allegations.Taking note of the complaint, the NHRC, through its proceedings dated November 24, 2025, observed that the allegations involved serious violations of the human rights of victims.
It subsequently directed the Secretary of the Punjab Home Department to examine the matter and submit a report expeditiously within 15 days.However, the response forwarded to the Commission was a report from the office of the Director General of Police, Punjab. The NHRC has now sought an independent examination of the allegations by the state's top administrative officials rather than accepting a report prepared by the office of the police chief against whom the allegations were raised.The Commission has listed the matter for consideration after four weeks.- Ends