Human Rights Body Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Death
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a chartered accountant from Kerala, who passed away in Pune allegedly due to excessive workload at her company. Anna, who had been employed at Ernst & Young for four months, reportedly collapsed after enduring long working hours, leading her mother to raise concerns about the company’s work culture.
In a statement, the NHRC expressed serious concern over the incident and emphasized the need for businesses to align their work culture and employment policies with global human rights standards. The Commission has issued a notice to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, requesting a detailed report within four weeks. The report is expected to outline steps being taken to ensure such incidents do not recur.
The NHRC stated that the death of Anna Perayil raises serious questions about the challenges young professionals face in the workplace, including mental stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep. These pressures, according to the NHRC, have led to violations of human rights, as employees strive to meet unrealistic targets and timelines. The Commission reiterated that it is the responsibility of every employer to provide a safe and supportive work environment.
“The Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, raise serious issues regarding challenges faced young citizens at work, suffering from mental stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep, adversely affecting their physical and mental health while chasing impractical targets and timelines resulting in grave violations of their human rights. It is the prime duty of every employer to provide a safe, secure and positive environment to its employees. They must ensure that everyone working with them is treated with dignity and fairness,” a statement from the NHRC said.
Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, addressed a letter to Rajiv Memani, Chairman of EY India, blaming the company for her daughter’s death. She highlighted how the overwhelming workload and pressure from managers took a toll on Anna’s mental and physical health, contributing to her untimely demise. Augustine also criticised the company for failing to attend her daughter’s funeral.
In response, EY India expressed its condolences and stated that they are committed to employee well-being. The firm promised to address the concerns raised by the family and stated that they have provided support to the bereaved family. However, the central government has already initiated an investigation into the matter.
The NHRC has called for a broader review of work environments in businesses across India, urging them to integrate human rights protection and ensure the well-being of their employees. The Commission is also actively involved in promoting human rights in business, having established a ‘Core Group on Business and Human Rights’ to review existing regulations and recommend improvements.
The Commission has recently took suo motu cognizance of the media reports regarding alleged unfair practices at the workplace by two multinational companies in the States of Haryana and Tamil Nadu. Both matters are under consideration before the Commission, the statement said.
