NEW DELHI: The Indian government has been going about selling up a human rights commission rather leisurely. It was more than two years ago that the government had promised a commission in the wake of international hue and cry against violation of human rights by security forces in India. Indian authorities have been content to parade their intention to set up a commission itself as a great achievement. In reply to criticism by a U.S. official, John Malott, last week, the Indian home minister said that perhaps Malott did not know that this country was planning to set up a human rights commission, interestingly, the draft legislation prepared by the home ministry did not provide for any provision. To deal with complaints against security forces. The ministry merely talked of redress of grievances against the so called terrorists. The commission obviously will act cx parte because the alleged terrorists will get no opportunity of hearing whether any offence attributed to them was actually committed by them. The draft even provided for refusal of material and record by the government in the event of any complaint being investigated against security forces, Certain modifications in the draft have been carried out recently to provide for investigation against security forces, but’ the commission will not be able to take any action against any erring official. It will have to make recommendations to the government for action. The government may or may not take action in terms of the commission’s recommendations.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 28, 1993
