Justice J.S. Verma stresses for autonomy and independence of NHRC Foundation stone for Manavadhikar Bhavan laid
The Vice President of India, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today laid the foundation stone of Manavadhikar Bhavan, a building that will house the National Human Rights Commission.
In his welcome address, Justice J.S. Verma, Chairperson, NHRC said that it has always been perceived that a separate premise from where the NHRC could function was necessary in keeping with the autonomous character of the Commission. One of the most essential requirements for a National Institution to function for the better protection of human rights is functional and administrative autonomy. He said that just as justice should not only be done but seen to be done, similarly the National Institutions should also not only be autonomous but also be seen to be autonomous and independent.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President of India, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, stressed on the need for ensuring human rights for all and for spread of human rights awareness and said that any government that could not protect the human rights of the people was not fit to govern the country.
He defined the three most important spheres in which he thought the intervention of NHRC was necessary and where he felt that NHRC’s intervention would be effective. One of the areas was the right to food. He said that while the Government godowns were overflowing with food grains, people in many states of the country are still dying of hunger. The Public Distribution System (PDS) has totally collapsed and this was seriously affecting the fundamental rights of the poor. This, he said, was because of the rampant corruption prevailing in the country. Only 15% of the country’s total allotted expenditure for the poor actually percolated down, the rest never reach them.
The second area to which he drew the attention of the NHRC was Elementary Education. He said that although the right to elementary education has been made a fundamental right, people were not being able to exercise this right causing a grave violation of their human rights.
The Vice President also stressed on the right to justice for the poor. He said that the poor couldn’t even think of litigation, as it was not only time consuming but also very expensive. Their right to litigation has been totally deprived. No law has yet been made to stop corruption, and the level of corruption has only gone upwards. None can litigate against this.
Shri Shekhawat appealed to the NHRC to work towards uprooting these problems right from the roots. He stressed on strict measures that had to be adopted and said that not only individuals but also institutions and governments have to be held accountable for ensuring the rights of every citizen of the country.
In his welcome address, Justice J.S. Verma, Chairperson, NHRC said that it has always been perceived that a separate premise from where the NHRC could function was necessary in keeping with the autonomous character of the Commission. One of the most essential requirements for a National Institution to function for the better protection of human rights is functional and administrative autonomy. He said that just as justice should not only be done but seen to be done, similarly the National Institutions should also not only be autonomous but also be seen to be autonomous and independent.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President of India, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, stressed on the need for ensuring human rights for all and for spread of human rights awareness and said that any government that could not protect the human rights of the people was not fit to govern the country.
He defined the three most important spheres in which he thought the intervention of NHRC was necessary and where he felt that NHRC’s intervention would be effective. One of the areas was the right to food. He said that while the Government godowns were overflowing with food grains, people in many states of the country are still dying of hunger. The Public Distribution System (PDS) has totally collapsed and this was seriously affecting the fundamental rights of the poor. This, he said, was because of the rampant corruption prevailing in the country. Only 15% of the country’s total allotted expenditure for the poor actually percolated down, the rest never reach them.
The second area to which he drew the attention of the NHRC was Elementary Education. He said that although the right to elementary education has been made a fundamental right, people were not being able to exercise this right causing a grave violation of their human rights.
The Vice President also stressed on the right to justice for the poor. He said that the poor couldn’t even think of litigation, as it was not only time consuming but also very expensive. Their right to litigation has been totally deprived. No law has yet been made to stop corruption, and the level of corruption has only gone upwards. None can litigate against this.
Shri Shekhawat appealed to the NHRC to work towards uprooting these problems right from the roots. He stressed on strict measures that had to be adopted and said that not only individuals but also institutions and governments have to be held accountable for ensuring the rights of every citizen of the country.