Chairperson visits the States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
The Chairperson inaugurated a certificate course on "Human Rights Education & Duties" on 5 December 1999 in the Devi Ahilya University, Indore under the aegis of UGC. He met the Chairperson and Members of the Madhya Pradesh State Human Rights Commission, senior civil and police officers of the State Government, judges of the High Court, and discussed with them key issues relating to the Human Rights situation in the State. The Chairperson also met members of the public and received a number of representations/complaints from them, which are now being processed by the Commission.
On 19 December 1999, the Chairperson visited Ahmedabad. He inaugurated a Judges’ workshop on "HIV/AIDS: The Law and Ethics". The workshop was attended, among others, by Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia, Justice Edwin Cameron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and Judges from Ahmedabad. The Chairperson then met several Ministers and senior officials of the State, as well as the Commission’s Special Rapporteur in Ahmedabad, Shri P.G.J. Nampoothiri. Issues concerning the setting up of a State Human Rights Commission in Gujarat and other related matters were deliberated upon. The Home Minister of Gujarat told the Chairperson that a Citizen’s Charter had been prepared and put into practice in respect of certain crucial issues in the State. He was requested to send the details of this scheme to the Commission. The Chairperson also met a number of advocates and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
Justice J.S. Verma was in Coimbatore on 24 December 1999 where he addressed senior officers of the district on the need to develop a culture of human rights while dealing with the general public. The Chairperson stressed the value of sensitising senior officers on human rights matters so that their perceptions improved and they were able to inspire their juniors in developing such values. He inaugurated a conference "India 2000 – towards Economic and Cultural Revitalisation", on 25 December 1999 in Coimbatore.
On 26 December, the Chairperson met Members of the Institute of Contemporary Studies in Bangalore. He informed them that the Commission had decided to nominate the members of the institute collectively as Special Rapporteurs of the Commission. The institute will inform the Commission of the major areas on which they are focussing so that the Commission can coordinate certain issues with them. The institute was provided with a list of Commission’s pending cases with the State government and its members were requested to pursue these cases and inform the Commission of the progress in respect of them. In Bangalore, the Chairperson also addressed a group of Sri Lankan Judges on the "Criminal Administration of Justice in Human Rights Cases". On 27 December, he inaugurated a three-day training programme for judicial officers on the "Administration of Environmental Justice". It was organised by the Karnataka Judicial Academy and the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. The Chairperson also held a discussion with the Governor of Karnataka and met with the senior officers of the State.
The Chairperson thereafter inaugurated a three-day programme for Judicial Officers on the "Sensitisation of Judicial Officers in Human Rights Administration". This was organised by the Andhra Pradesh Judicial Academy and NLSIU, in Hyderabad on 28 December 1999. The Chairperson then reviewed the action being taken by the State with regard to various guidelines that had been issued by NHRC with the Chief Minister and senior officers of the State. He stressed that the Human Rights Cell set-up in the Police Headquarters must be activated. Speaking of the practical problems faced when implementing human rights programmes, the Chairperson emphasised that there could not be any compromise on policy aspects, practical problems had to be sorted out by devising proper procedures.
On 19 December 1999, the Chairperson visited Ahmedabad. He inaugurated a Judges’ workshop on "HIV/AIDS: The Law and Ethics". The workshop was attended, among others, by Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia, Justice Edwin Cameron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and Judges from Ahmedabad. The Chairperson then met several Ministers and senior officials of the State, as well as the Commission’s Special Rapporteur in Ahmedabad, Shri P.G.J. Nampoothiri. Issues concerning the setting up of a State Human Rights Commission in Gujarat and other related matters were deliberated upon. The Home Minister of Gujarat told the Chairperson that a Citizen’s Charter had been prepared and put into practice in respect of certain crucial issues in the State. He was requested to send the details of this scheme to the Commission. The Chairperson also met a number of advocates and representatives of non-governmental organisations.
Justice J.S. Verma was in Coimbatore on 24 December 1999 where he addressed senior officers of the district on the need to develop a culture of human rights while dealing with the general public. The Chairperson stressed the value of sensitising senior officers on human rights matters so that their perceptions improved and they were able to inspire their juniors in developing such values. He inaugurated a conference "India 2000 – towards Economic and Cultural Revitalisation", on 25 December 1999 in Coimbatore.
On 26 December, the Chairperson met Members of the Institute of Contemporary Studies in Bangalore. He informed them that the Commission had decided to nominate the members of the institute collectively as Special Rapporteurs of the Commission. The institute will inform the Commission of the major areas on which they are focussing so that the Commission can coordinate certain issues with them. The institute was provided with a list of Commission’s pending cases with the State government and its members were requested to pursue these cases and inform the Commission of the progress in respect of them. In Bangalore, the Chairperson also addressed a group of Sri Lankan Judges on the "Criminal Administration of Justice in Human Rights Cases". On 27 December, he inaugurated a three-day training programme for judicial officers on the "Administration of Environmental Justice". It was organised by the Karnataka Judicial Academy and the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. The Chairperson also held a discussion with the Governor of Karnataka and met with the senior officers of the State.
The Chairperson thereafter inaugurated a three-day programme for Judicial Officers on the "Sensitisation of Judicial Officers in Human Rights Administration". This was organised by the Andhra Pradesh Judicial Academy and NLSIU, in Hyderabad on 28 December 1999. The Chairperson then reviewed the action being taken by the State with regard to various guidelines that had been issued by NHRC with the Chief Minister and senior officers of the State. He stressed that the Human Rights Cell set-up in the Police Headquarters must be activated. Speaking of the practical problems faced when implementing human rights programmes, the Chairperson emphasised that there could not be any compromise on policy aspects, practical problems had to be sorted out by devising proper procedures.