New Delhi, 5th September, 2014

A high level delegation of the National Human Rights Commission, led by Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, comprising Members, Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Mr. S.C. Sinha and senior officers will be visiting Bhopal in connection with the Commission's Open Hearing and Camp Sitting being held at RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration and Management, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh from the 10th - 12th September, 2014.

On the first day, after the inauguration of the Open Hearing by the NHRC Chairperson at 10:00 a.m. on the 10th September, 2014, the Commission will hear 74 complaints of aggrieved people belonging to Scheduled Caste communities and the problems faced by them in seeking justice from the Government agencies. These complaints were received in response to the public notice published in the national and local dailies. In connection with these complaints, the responses of the concerned authorities have been called, which will be taken up during the Open Hearing in the presence of senior officers and the complainants.

On the second day, i.e. 11th September, 2014, 45 pending cases will be taken up in the Full Commission Camp Sitting at the same venue. These cases include matters relating to Death of more than 100 people in a stampede at Ratangarh temple in Datia district due to alleged inaction by the State Govt., death in police custody, deaths due to electrocution, indignity to women, discrimination against SC children in school, non-payment of pension, irregularities in Govt. hospitals etc.

The aim of the Camp Sitting is to dispose of pending cases concerning one particular State by hearing the senior government officers; sensitize them about the importance of human rights issues; compliance of NHRC recommendations by them and meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people.

On the concluding day of the Camp Sitting, i.e., the 12th September, 2014, the Commission will hold a meeting with local NGOs on human rights issues from 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. Thereafter at the same venue, the Commission will hold discussions with the Chief Secretary, DGP, DMs, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers on the issues raised by the NGOs and on the issues raised during the Open Hearing and the Camp Sitting.

The points of discussion with senior officers will also include atrocities on Scheduled Castes and other depressed sections of society, Public Distribution System, access of public to Govt. hospitals and lack of facilities in the Govt. Hospitals, Silicosis, implementation of flagship programmes of Government of India and other welfare schemes of the State Government, delay in conduct of CBCID investigations ordered by the Commission, delay in submission of Magisterial Enquiry Report, delay in submission of compliance report, non-registration of FIR by police, timely submission of legible copies of reports by authorities, jail reforms, condition of juvenile homes etc.

Finally, on the 12th September, 2014, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Members of the Commission would brief the media from 03:00 - 03:30 p.m. at RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration and Management, Bhopal about the outcome of the Open Hearing and Camp Sitting as well as discussions with the NGOs and senior officers of the State Government for wider dissemination of information on the human rights issues and action taken by the NHRC for their protection and promotion.

Since its inception, the Commission has been actively engaged in protection and promotion of the rights of Scheduled Castes. Apart from taking cognizance suo-motu and on complaints relating to atrocities against Scheduled Castes, the Commission has also engaged key stakeholders on the issue; published booklets; and held training programmes and workshops aimed at sensitizing various stakeholders on the issue so as to eliminate atrocities, discrimination, and any other form of violation of their human rights.

The National Human Rights Commission, being deeply concerned about the atrocities against persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, requested Mr. K.B. Saxena, IAS (Retd.) to carry out a study in this regard and suggest appropriate recommendations. Accordingly, Mr. Saxena undertook the study and submitted his comprehensive and detailed report. This report is available on the website of Commission i.e. www.nhrc.nic.in. Among the recommendations Mr. Saxena made was one that the Commission organise at least one Open Hearing a year "where the victims of major atrocities can present their experiences and grievances in seeking justice from Government agencies and human rights bodies/non-governmental organizations/social workers and activists may apprise the Commission of difficulties encountered by them in taking up their complaints. In the interaction with the State Government subsequent to the Hearing, the Commission may convey its observations and advice on various actions to be taken for effective enforcement of law, sustaining confidence of victims and, where required, looking into the conduct of officials coming in for adverse reference during the hearing. The follow up action on the hearings may be monitored."

The Commission also took a decision to launch awareness campaigns in four districts which had a high record of atrocities against Scheduled Castes. In this connection, Members and senior officials from the Commission have been visiting Bharatpur in Rajasthan; Faridabad in Haryana and Jaipur and Ajmer in Rajasthan.

Prior to Madhya Pradesh, the Commission has held its Open Hearings of the complaints of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in the States of Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The Commission also held an Open Hearing in its office at Manav Adhikar Bhawan, New Delhi to hear complaints received from Meerut region of Uttar Pradesh.

The NHRC has also organised its Camp Sittings in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengaluru (for four southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu), Odisha, Gujarat, Assam, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh and Manipur.
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