Questioning the Central Bureau of Investigation decision to file merely 19 cases into the serial killings in Nithari village in Uttar Pradesh, despite reports of 38 missing children, the National Human Rights Commission has formed a committee to study the matter and file its report within eight weeks.

The committee, formed on February 12 and headed by P C Sharma, would suggest appropriate guidelines that will meaningfully protect the human rights of children while asking the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and director general of police to submit a detailed report on the status of CBI investigation into the case, NHRC Acting Chairman Shivraj V Patil told mediapersons on Thursday.

"The chief secretary and the DGP have also been directed to specify whether or not cases of all missing persons/children have been registered and entrusted to the CBI for investigation." The detailed report by the UP government would have to be submitted within four weeks, Patil said.

The direction comes after DGP UP submitted a report on the serial killings mentioning that 19 cases had been registered between December 13, 2006, and January 1, 2007, in connection with the case.

The UP government's report also specified steps like distribution of relief to the families of victims, disciplinary action against errant officials and efforts to trace those missing.

We felt the issue needed to be examined in depth and guidelines be evolved to deal such cases effectively to avoid any repetition and in the best interests of upholding the human rights of children, said the NHRC chief adding, "after the committee submits its report, the matter would be taken by the full commission. On the basis of the discussion, proper guidelines would be framed and forwarded to the Central and state govenments for neccessary action."