NHRC holds two-day regional meet of southern States in Bangalore

NEW DELHI - The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) discussed 92 cases from four southern States during a two-day regional meet held in Bangalore, and recommended monetary relief to the tune of rupees 19,80,000 in nine cases besides disposing of 22 cases.

Senior officials from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, attended the regional meet.

The proceedings started with the Full Commission meeting, presided over by Member Justice B.C. Patel. Satyabrata Pal and P.C. Sharma were other members, constituting the Bench. Thereafter, cases were taken up by two Division Benches and three Single Member Benches.

The Full Commission Bench considered six cases from Andhra Pradesh (3), Karnataka (2) and Tamil Nadu (1).

The Commission discussed the issues regarding police action/inaction, non forwarding of the reports, custodial death cases and encounter death cases, compliance cases, bonded labour cases, child labour cases during the interaction with the Chief Secretaries, DGPs, DMs, SSPs and other senior officers of the four states.

The Commission directed the State authorities to send timely reports to enable the Commission to dispose of the matters quickly.

The State authorities were asked to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Commission from time to time on encounter deaths, custodial deaths and other issues.

They were requested to focus on prevention of death in police custody and to conduct compulsory medical check-up of all inmates at the time of entry to the jail.

The Commission emphasized on immediate departmental action against the concerned officers responsible for human rights violations.

The Commission, for quick disposal of the cases, proposed to hold video conferencing between the NHRC and State Governments on quarterly basis.

On the second day of the two-day meet, the pending issues of bonded labour, tribals, rights of elderly persons, mental health, juvenile justice were discussed with the Chief Secretaries and concerned officers of the respective States.

States were directed to send reports regularly to the Commission on bonded labour for quick action in the cases.

They were also asked to send information regarding the total old age population in the States, the amount given per person under OAPS and the action taken by the Government to take care of health and physical problems of older persons regularly.

The States have also been urged to send reports on overall conditions in mental hospitals, status of implementation of district mental health programme to the Commission on regular basis and also monitor the status of proposal of mental hospitals and district hospitals pending with the State Government for augmenting facilities, said an official release.

The States were also reminded to adhere to the questionnaire/reporting format on juvenile justice system, circulated by the Commission in order to know the progress made in the implementation of Juvenile Justice (care and protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2006, and send timely reports to the Commission.

During interaction with the local NGOs, the Commission urged for more cooperation from the NGOs to strengthen the relationship as it considers the NGOs to be its eyes and ears. It expects them to act as the ‘bridge’ between civil society and the Commission to draw its attention to the violations of human rights.

The Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh; the Additional Chief Secretary and Director General and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka, the Additional Direct General of Police and Secretary (Public) Tamil Nadu and the DGP and Addl. Chief Secretary, Kerala as well as District Magisterates and Senior Superintendents of Police of the concerned districts of the States. (ANI)