A news item was published in the Times of India dated August 07, 2002, under
the caption 'Women dies on husband's pyre', describing the case of a 65 year
old woman, who committed Sati in Patna Tamoli village of Panna district in
Madhya Pradesh on 6th morning after two police men failed in their attempt to
pull her out of the funeral pyre. The Commission took suo motu cognisance of
the incidence and constituted an Inquiry Committee by exercising the powers
conferred to it under sections 8(1), (2) and (3) read with sections 10(1) and
10(4) of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990
The Inquiry Committee comprised the following members:
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Dr Poornima Advani, Chairperson, NCW Chairperson
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Ms Anusuiya Uike, Member, NCW Member
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Mrs Baby Rani Maurya, Member, NCW Member
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Dr (Mrs) Padma Seth, ex-Member/Advisor, NCW Expert
The Committee was assisted by the Law Officer of the Commission.
The Committee left Delhi on August 09,2002 at 12 O'clock for an on the spot
investigation and reached the site of incidence at 4.30 p.m. on the same day
i.e. August 09,2002. The Committee first visited the cremation ground where the
funeral pyre was lit and the incidence of Sati took place. The Committee spent
a couple of hours in the open space, opposite to the cremation ground
interviewing various groups of people who had come to depose before the
Committee. Later, the Committee visited the village, particularly the room
where Smt. Kuttu Bai, resided. While walking through the lanes of the village,
the members visited various houses. The Committee also met a large number of
people, the family members of Smt. Kuttu Bai, the family members of those who
have been arrested, the villagers, the, elected representatives, the village
level officers, the Registered Medical Practitioner, the police personnel of
the concerned police station, the people from the neighbouring villages, people
from print/visual media, government officials, etc. The Committee also visited
the Panna Jail and spoke to the 17 villagers, who were arrested in connection
with this case These included the two sons of the deceased woman