Farmer stopped at Bengaluru Metro for "untidy" clothes, Rights Body issues notice to Karnataka Govt

New Delhi [India], February 29 : Taking suo moto cognizance upon an incident in which a farmer was stopped from boarding a metro train by an official at Rajajinagar station in Karnataka's Bengaluru "because his clothes were untidy," the National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, and the Managing Director, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited, an official statement said on Wednesday.
While asking for a detailed report within four weeks, the Commission has asked it to propose steps to be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur, the release added.
The video of the incident has reportedly gone viral on social media.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, "amount to a violation of human rights." "No person can be denied access to public transport based on the nature of the clothes he or she is wearing. If someone possesses any objectionable material, he could be stopped only as per the provisions of the law," as per the statement.
"It should also include the steps taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur," the release said.
According to the media report dated February 27, the farmer was visible in the video standing with a sack of goods on his head at the bag-checking point of the metro station. "When an official stopped the farmer, another passenger objected to his action and asked him to show the rule that made a dress code mandatory for metro passengers or whether the metro was meant only for VIPs. He shared the video of the incident on social media," the release stated.