Noida: Raising an important question about whether compensation can absolve a crime, National Human Rights Commission has summoned police commissioner Laxmi Singh, questioning why no FIR was registered in the death of a six-year-old boy in a wall collapse last year in Greater Noida.
Ahaan was heading to a shop near his house at Saini village in the Ecotech 3 area when a portion of his neighbour's house caved in and buried him under its debris on May 19, 2025.
After the boy died during treatment, human rights activist Rajeev Kumar Sharma filed a petition before the NHRC seeking compensation for the family and registration of a case of culpable homicide against the house owner.
Sharma told TOI, "This is not a private dispute that can be brushed aside through a monetary settlement. A six-year-old child died due to alleged negligence, and the law clearly mandates the registration of an FIR and a fair investigation. By permitting a Rs 2 lakh compromise and closing the case without criminal proceedings, the police have failed in their statutory duty."
He added that such an approach erodes public trust in the justice system and sends the message that accountability can be bought.
During the proceedings on June 3, 2025, NHRC issued a notice to the district magistrate, seeking a detailed inquiry into the incident and a report within four weeks.
The DCP submitted its report, along with a statement prepared by ACP Central Noida, to the commission on Sept 8 last year. In its report, police said the accused, the house owner, had paid Rs 2 lakh to the child's family and reached a settlement, so no legal action was deemed necessary.
Taking note of the police response, NHRC observed that apart from monetary compensation, the police report did not mention any FIR registered under the sections, including, but not limited to, 106 (causing death by negligence) and 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing, or constructing buildings).
"Furthermore, the authority concerned, without considering the applicability of the relevant law(s) in the present case, stated that a compromise was arrived at between the parties and no further action is required," it noted.
On Tuesday, NHRC observed that the death of a minor could not be closed based on a monetary compromise and directed the police commissioner to appear before it in person with all investigation records on April 6. A copy of the order was also sent to the DGP, informing him of the commission's concerns over the handling of the case by the local police.
Ashni Dhaor is a Special Correspondent with the Times of India, w...
Read MoreAshni Dhaor is a Special Correspondent with the Times of India, with over a decade of experience across print, electronic, and digital media. She specialises in long-form features, grassroots civic-policy investigations, and human-interest stories, covering urban development, local governance, nightlife, and evolving lifestyle trends in Noida and Ghaziabad.
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