The Hindu : National : An eventful year for NHRC

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Friday, Dec 31, 2004

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National

An eventful year for NHRC

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, DEC. 30. Providing relief to the victims in the "Punjab Mass Cremations" case, voicing concern over reported suicides of farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal, and bringing out two comprehensive reports "Trafficking in Women and Children" and "Prevention of Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes" are some of the achievements of the National Human Rights Commission this year.Besides this, the NHRC Chairperson,Justice A.S. Anand, wrote to the Central and State Governments on illegal trade in human organs, discrimination faced by persons with HIV/AIDS and on certain provisions in the proposed Employment Guarantee Act.

The number of complaints received and registered were about 74,000 compared to the mere 500 it received when the Commission came into being. During the calendar year, allegations against police accounted for the maximum complaints received.

Complaints of violations of the rights of women, service matters, mafia/underworld, conditions in jails and discrimination against SC/ST/OBCs constituted a significant number.

The steady increase is a reflection of the growing stature of the Commission as an institution to be approached for redress. This also highlights the level of awareness on human rights among the public.

Punjab case

It was no small achievement for the Commission when on November 11, the Commission announced a compensation of Rs. 2.5 lakhs to the next of kin of the 109 victims who died and were cremated by the Punjab police during its anti-terror drive in 1984-94. It said the "human rights of these 109 persons stood invaded and infringed when they lost their lives, while in the custody of the police.

The State of Punjab is accountable and vicariously responsible for the infringement of the right to life of those 109 persons as it failed to safeguard their lives."

Reports of alleged violation of human rights by the security forces prompted Justice Anand to hold a meeting with the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. N.C. Vij, early this year. Gen. Vij assured him that human rights figured very high in the Army's operational matrix and it remained committed to do everything possible. He also gave details of the action taken in cases of violation.

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