In a statement here, the NHRC said it has given six weeks time to the Chief Secretary to explain as to why the victims of silicosis, a disease which affects lungs due to inhaling of silica dust and is widely prevalent among workers employed in mining sector, be not recommended monetary relief.
NHRC had earlier been approached by Prasar, an NGO, which brought the cases of 44 persons working in the mines in Lal Kuan area, to its notice. Delhi government, initially, had denied any case of silicosis in the capital.
The Commission appointed a committee under Dr K S Bhagotia, SPO (Silicosis), Delhi government's Directorate of Health Services, and Dr Neeraj Gupta, Certifying Surgeon of Labour Department.
The report by them as well as the one from Lala Ram Swarup Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease confirmed that 21 out of the 44 persons had evidence of silicosis or silico tuberculosis, the NHRC said.
"Prima-facie, it is established that the Delhi government has failed to protect the 21 workers out of 44 from the occupational disease caused due to inhaling of silica in dust. It has observed that a case of violation of human rights of the victims, who were alleged to be suffering from silicosis," it said.