NHRC gets over 30,000 rights abuse complaints

NEW DELHI, DEC 30: A 50 per cent jump in the number of complaints coupled with reports of 660 custodial deaths made 1997 hectic for National...

NEW DELHI, DEC 30: A 50 per cent jump in the number of complaints coupled with reports of 660 custodial deaths made 1997 hectic for National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The year, which witnessed the launching of year-long celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, saw the commission deepening its efforts in areas like custodial violence, prison and custodial homes, child and bonded labour and awareness.

Throughout the year, NHRC functioned with a reduced strength after two of its members left the commission to assume the office of the Governors of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The vacancies are yet to be filled.

The commission received more than 30,000 complaints in the first nine months of 1997-98 against a total of 20,833 complaints received in 1996-97. During April-November, the commission considered 15,086 complaints out of which 7,474 were dismissed and 2,991 transferred to the concerned authorities with appropriate directions for disposal.

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As many as 660 custodial deaths, including 136 in police custody, were reported to the commission during April-November this year as against 888 deaths in 1996-97.

Officers of NHRC’s investigation division probed 159 cases and monitored police and other investigations in 732 cases. Departmental action was initiated against 50 erring police officials and compensation amounting from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh given to five persons in three cases.

NHRC remained deeply engaged in efforts to end the violation of human rights that result in custodial deaths, rape and torture. It recommended a model autopsy form and appropriate procedures for conducting inquests. These recommendations have been accepted by 9 states and 5 union territories.

Issues like child and bonded labour, child prostitution and manual scavenging remained the focal point of NHRC activities.

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Following NHRC’s intervention, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a special task force to deal with the issue of child and bonded labour, rampant in the Mirzapur-Bhadohi carpet-weaving belt of the state, and later extended the scheme to neighbouring districts.

NHRC also recommended to the central government steps to prevent government servants from employing children below the age of 14 years as domestic help.The Central Services (Conduct) Rule was amended to make the practice a “misconduct” attracting “major penalty.” Later, the commission asked all the states to initiate action on similar lines.

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 came into effect.In the field of human rights literacy and awareness, the commission’s efforts to mobilise the education system bore fruit with the University Grants Commission’s Standing Committee on Human Rights approving proposals for starting certificate, diploma and degree courses in human rights at eight selected universities.

NHRC sought the inclusion of questions relating to human rights in the general knowledge paper of the civil services examination. It also announced a decision to institute a human rights chair and Human Rights Research and Documentation Centre at the National Law School in Bangalore. Workshops and conferences were held with a view to sensitising various sections of society, particularly police personnel.

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The research division of the commission was restructured. The commission identified 33 projects in its research programme. Efforts were made to draw on the talents of Non-Governmental Organisations which are working towards similar aims.Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir also set up human rights commissions, taking the number of commissions in the country to seven.