Rights activists at an Independent People’s Tribunal (IPT) held here recently opined that the National and State Human Rights commissions were not independent in their functioning and averse to taking up human rights violation cases.
The tribunal was held on the theme ‘Catalysing Human Rights Institutions towards Effective Justice Delivery’ by the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), an NGO which works in the area of human rights, along with various other human rights advocacy groups such as All India Network of Individuals and NGOs working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI), Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation (HRARF), Social Awareness Society for Youth (SASY) and Society for Integrated Rural Development (SIRD).
Speaking at the inaugural address, Ossie Fernandes, director, Human Rights Foundation said, “The SHRCs can take up the human rights violation cases suo motu in case the government fails to take action. But they are not ready to do it.”
Speaking to City Express, Henri Tiphagne, Honorary National Working Secretary, AiNNI said, “In the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Geneva last year, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation had made several recommendations to India. When they are fulfilled the NHRCI will be re-accredited an ‘A status’. Unless the State and National Human Rights Commissions are independent, the human rights violations cannot be controlled.”
As many as 40 victims of human rights violations narrated their tales of woes.
A Lakshmanan, a resident of Singalpadi village in Vellore, alleged that he lost his right ear after some policemen poured acid into it in 2007. “I am one of the volunteers of the illicit liquor eradicating committee in my village. The police took me into custody and poured acid in my ear. After repeated complaints, the policemen concerned were suspended for six months, but later got promotions,” he said.
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