LEGISLATION ON TERRORISM NOT AT HUMAN RIGHTS EXPENSE
New Delhi,
18 December 2003
Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission Dr. Justice A.S. Anand has called for the need to enact legislation to combat terrorism but warned that this legislation should not be at the cost of human rights.
In his inaugural address, at the Annual Para-Military Forces Debate Competition jointly organized by the National Human Rights Commission and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) held at New Delhi today, Justice Anand acknowledged that the law enforcing agencies do face a difficult problem while tackling terrorism. Terming terrorist strikes like that on the Parliament and legislative assembly of Kashmir in the recent past as an attempt to destablize democracy, he said that suitable innovative legislation is needed to combat this threat.
He said that while combating terrorism, sovereignty of the country is important but this should not be an excuse to relegate human rights to the back burner. A balance has to be struck between individual liberty and sovereignty of the nation, he said.
While the international community has woken to the menace of international terrorism and the need for a united stand in fighting it only after 9/11, India has been fighting a lone battle against terrorism for the past two decades.
However, Justice Anand cautioned that state terrorism is not an answer to combating terrorism as and under no circumstances it is allowed for in any country governed by law.
Earlier, the DIG CISF Shri K.M. Singh pointed out to India responsibility in protecting human rights as it is the largest democracy. He stressed on the need for striking a judicious balance in fighting terrorism and human rights as the value of human rights in our country was recognized centuries ago.
This annual debate competition by para-military force is being organized since 1996 with a view to create Human Rights literacy among the para-military personnel from 8 organizations which include BSF, CRPF, CISF, NSG, Assam Rifles, ITBP, SSB and RPF.
This year the topic was "Special legislation is necessary for effectively combating terrorism in the country." Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC, Shri J.N. Saxena, IPS(Retd.) and Shri Jai Raina, Asstt. Bureau Chief, Hindustan Times were the judges.
18 December 2003
Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission Dr. Justice A.S. Anand has called for the need to enact legislation to combat terrorism but warned that this legislation should not be at the cost of human rights.
In his inaugural address, at the Annual Para-Military Forces Debate Competition jointly organized by the National Human Rights Commission and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) held at New Delhi today, Justice Anand acknowledged that the law enforcing agencies do face a difficult problem while tackling terrorism. Terming terrorist strikes like that on the Parliament and legislative assembly of Kashmir in the recent past as an attempt to destablize democracy, he said that suitable innovative legislation is needed to combat this threat.
He said that while combating terrorism, sovereignty of the country is important but this should not be an excuse to relegate human rights to the back burner. A balance has to be struck between individual liberty and sovereignty of the nation, he said.
While the international community has woken to the menace of international terrorism and the need for a united stand in fighting it only after 9/11, India has been fighting a lone battle against terrorism for the past two decades.
However, Justice Anand cautioned that state terrorism is not an answer to combating terrorism as and under no circumstances it is allowed for in any country governed by law.
Earlier, the DIG CISF Shri K.M. Singh pointed out to India responsibility in protecting human rights as it is the largest democracy. He stressed on the need for striking a judicious balance in fighting terrorism and human rights as the value of human rights in our country was recognized centuries ago.
This annual debate competition by para-military force is being organized since 1996 with a view to create Human Rights literacy among the para-military personnel from 8 organizations which include BSF, CRPF, CISF, NSG, Assam Rifles, ITBP, SSB and RPF.
This year the topic was "Special legislation is necessary for effectively combating terrorism in the country." Justice Shri Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC, Shri J.N. Saxena, IPS(Retd.) and Shri Jai Raina, Asstt. Bureau Chief, Hindustan Times were the judges.