Curtain Raiser: Two days long NHRC Open Hearing & Camp Sitting at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala begins on 31st October 2019



New Delhi, 29th October, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India will be holding its Open Hearing and Camp Sitting at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala for the cases of human rights violation in the State of Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep on 31st October & 1st November, 2019. Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC will inaugurate it at Government Guest House, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram on 31.10.2019 at 10.00 AM.

After inauguration, the Commission will take up 96 cases in the Open Hearing on the grievances of aggrieved people of Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe communities and the problems they face in seeking justice from Government agencies. These 96 matters shall be heard in four single benches, to be presided over by NHRC Chairpersons and Members, Mr.Justice, Mr. P.C. Pant, Mrs. Jyotika Kalra and Dr. Dnyaneshwar Manohar Mulay.

Public notices were published in the national and local dailies inviting complaints for the open hearing. Besides, the complaints received in response to the public notice, the Commission has also decided to take up during the open hearing, old cases of the State of Kerala and UT Lakshadweep, which are already under its consideration. The authorities concerned and the complainants have been asked to remain present at the time of hearing of the cases.

On the second day, i.e. Ist of November, 2019, 5 cases shall be taken up in the sitting of Full Commission to be presided over by Justice Dattu. The matters relate to alleged trafficking of children from Tamil Nadu to Kerala by human trafficking network, denial Sexual harassment of 270 girls in some of the orphanages in Malabar, cremation of the dead bodies in some Jacobite/Orthodox Syrian Churches and destruction of agricultural crops of Tribals by Kerala State Forest Department officials in Kerala by certain persons of vested interest.

After the sitting of Full Commission, the Commission will hold a meeting with NGOs of the State of Kerala and UT Lakshadweep on human rights issues at Government Guest House, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram from 11.00 AM to 12.00 Noon.

Thereafter, the Chairperson and Members of the Commission would brief the media about the outcome of the Open Hearing and Camp Sitting as well as discussions with the NGOs at the same venue from 12.00 Noon to 12.45 PM for wider dissemination of related information and action taken by the NHRC.

In the concluding session, the Commission will hold discussions with the Chief Secretary, DGP, DMs, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers of the State on the issues raised by the NGOs at the same venue from from 12.45 PM – 01.30 PM. The following important issues are also likely to be taken up during the discussion with senior officers of the State Government:

1. Timely submission of Reports by the authorities in the State Government.

2. Provision of English translation of Reports or Annexure in vernacular language.

3. Provision of infrastructure, facilities and cleanliness in the hospitals, primary health centers, sub-divisional hospitals and filling up of the vacant post of Doctors and staff.

4. Facilities for patients and attendants including toilets.

5. Ambulance facility for persons injured in road accident and critically ill patients.

6. Training for Asha workers and ANM.

7. Drinking water facility in Anganwadi Centers besides arrangements for electricity connections.

8. Clean and maintained toilets in schools.

9. Awareness about and proper implementation of Ujjwala Scheme for benefit of poor people.

10. Submission of all Reports in respect of custodial death cases and encounter cases in one lot and as per the time frame laid down in the guidelines.

11. Timely submission of Magisterial Enquiry Reports.

Earlier, a team headed by Mr. Mukesh, Assistant Registrar (Law), NHRC also visited Wayanad district of Kerala to carry out an assessment of implementation of various centrally sponsored various flagship programmes and other welfare schemes of the State Govt. The detailed report of the NHRC team will be discussed during the meeting with the senior officers of the State Government.

The Commission has been organising Camp Sittings in different States with an aim to dispose of pending cases concerning one particular State by hearing the senior government officers; sensitize them about the importance of human rights issues and compliance of NHRC recommendations by them; meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people.

In its endeavour to implement the recommendations made by Mr. K.B. Saxena, IAS (Retd.) in his report submitted by him after carrying out a study about the atrocities against persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, on the request of the Commission, public hearings on various issues relating to atrocities and problems faced by Scheduled Castes, have also been held in a number of States and Union Territories in the country.

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