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, and has directed the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Secretary of the Home Department to conduct an independent inquiry and submit a fresh report within four weeks, India Today reported via News89, with The CSR Journal carrying the same proceedings.

Source: India Today via News89

In its proceedings dated November 2, 2026, the Commission said the report submitted by the Punjab government did not comply with its directions issued on November 24, 2025. It expressed displeasure that the government had forwarded a report prepared by the office of Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, despite the allegations in the complaint being directed against the police chief himself, and said the Home Secretary appeared not to have examined the matter before forwarding it. The NHRC had specifically asked the state Home Department to examine the matter, not the DGP's office.

Describing the Home Department's approach as lackadaisical, the Commission directed the two top officials to ensure an independent inquiry and not simply forward another report from the office complained against. It asked for the inquiry report within four weeks and an additional or complete report by December 10, 2026, warning that failure to comply could compel it to invoke its coercive powers under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The matter has been listed for consideration after four weeks.

Source: The CSR Journal

The complaint — allegations, not findings

The proceedings stem from a complaint dated July 12, 2025, filed by Nikhil Saraf, a resident of Mohali, which the Commission received by email on July 14, 2025. Saraf alleged — this is his allegation, not an NHRC finding — that 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 said to contain such directives, and cited several alleged incidents of extra-judicial killings and custodial torture across Punjab districts.

Neither report carried a response from the Punjab government or from the DGP to the November 2 proceedings. Awaaz Punjab is reporting the NHRC's directions as the confirmed official action, and the contents of Saraf's complaint strictly as allegations that the ordered inquiry will examine.