CISF lifts the running trophy as the best team in the NHRC debate competition for CAPFs. NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice Arun Mishra says, the use of proportionate force while dealing with an adversary has been embedded in the Indian idea of Manav Dharma

New Delhi, 23rd November, 2022

Mr. Justice Arun Mishra, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission today said that some special laws like UAPA were enacted to protect human rights not to take away them. The concept of using proportionate force in dealing with an adversary has been embedded in the Indian idea of Manav Dharma. The promotion and protection of human rights is a valued part of Indian culture, philosophy, and practice having the genesis in ancient Indian scriptures right since the ‘Rig Veda’. This was reflected in the Ramayana period when Lord Ram advised Laxman to use proportionate force and not a weapon of mass destruction during the war, and even in the Mahabharata period, when the warriors fought on principles, and after sun set visited the opposite camps to take care of the wounded.

Justice Mishra was addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest of the 27th NHRC Annual Debate Competition for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) organized in collaboration with the CISF in New Delhi today. He said that the ancient Indian values guide people to protect and promote all elements in nature, which are so essential for life on earth. Technology bereft of morals will be destructive to the environment and therefore, life on the earth.

He lauded the role of the armed forces in protecting the security and integrity of the nation and providing safety to the citizens braving adverse situations. Referring to the topic of the debate competition – “Maintenance of Human Rights is the primary pre-requisite for Rule of Law & Constitutional Governance”, the NHRC Chairperson said that though it was more challenging for those who spoke against the motion, the arguments given by the participants for and against the motion indicate their sensibility and understanding of the respect human rights require to be given during their operations, which is the aim of this debate competition for Central Armed Police Forces.

The CISF lifted the overall best team rolling trophy winning the final round of the debate competition in Hindi and English. Among the individual honours, the first prize for debate in Hindi went to Sub Inspector, VikeshTimande, RPF, and in English to Sub Inspector, Nazish Khan, CISF. The second prize in Hindi went to Constable Recruit, PranjalUpadhayay, Assam Rifles, and in English to Deputy Commandant, ShindeMehulPandurang, CISF. The third prize in Hindi was jointly shared by Sub Inspector PriyankaThakur, RPF, and Rifleman, Manoj Kumar Upadhayay, Assam Rifles, and in English it went to Deputy Commandant, Raghvendra Singh, CISF. Besides the certificates and a memento the first, second, and third prize winners were also given cash awards of Rs. 12,000/-, Rs. 10,000/- and Rs.8,000/- each respectively.

The winners were decided by a three-member panel of the jury headed by the NHRC Members, Dr. D.M. Mulay for Hindi and Mr. Rajiv Jain for English, comprising Mr. KamalNayanChoubey, former Director General of Police, Jharkhand, and Prof. (Dr.) HarpreetKaur, Vice-Chancellor (I/C), National Law University, Delhi.

Giving their comments on the debate, Dr. D.M. Mulay, NHRC Member, appreciated the participants' efforts but expected them to build their logic for and against the motion by imbibing the topic's spirit. They needed to see it not just through the prism of security forces and their related challenges but also in the light of various rights. Mr. Rajiv Jain, Member, NHRC also appreciated the efforts but said that the participants needed to relate with every word of the topic to build their arguments, which may not be lost out in their high pitch delivery.

Earlier, Mr. D.K. Singh, Secretary General, NHRC said that there is a tremendous responsibility on the shoulder of the security forces to deal fairly with the people without giving them the sense that their rights were sacrificed anywhere while upholding the rule of law.

In the event's opening remarks, Mr. ManojYadava, Director General (Investigation), NHRC said that the idea of this debate competition is that the rule of law and protection of human rights should permeate down the functioning of the security forces.

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