NHRC holds an interactive session with the Delhi police officials on policing and human rights.
New Delhi, June 8th, 2011
The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC today organized, for the first time, an interactive session with a group of the Delhi police officers and its present and former group of interns of Human Rights Training programme. A paper on "the Human Rights and Police" was presented by Mr. Arya Priya, a former NHRC intern, which triggered the session.
Several direct questions were raised on the methods of policing and violation of human rights , including its alleged unconstitutional and forceful eviction of the people in the middle of night on the 4-5 June ,2011 from the Ramlila ground in New Delhi, who were gathered there as part of a peaceful protest. In reply to a question, a police officer was of the view that irrespective of the orders from the senior officers, sometimes they have to use their own discretion in executing orders ,keeping in view the law, human rights and the situation on the ground.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. P C Sharma, Member, NHRC said that it is a wrong perception in the minds of some of the police officials that the Commission by raising issues of violations of human rights, at times, tends to obstruct them in their duty. He said that the police are the first custodian of the human rights and the Commission is there to rather guide and help them in this endeavour. He emphasized that investigation should never be done by the police officials under any kind of pressure or bias as it may amount to irreparable loss to the victims of such an action.
Mr. Sharma also added that the Commission recognizes that like any other citizen, the police personnel are also entitled to the human rights and has raised its voice time and again in this regard.
Mr. Sunil Krishna, Director General (Investigation), NHRC said that the police officers need to be more sensitive towards the people approaching them for registering their complaints. He hoped that this interaction will help them in passing out the message to their colleagues about the importance of human rights and expectations of the people from them. Some of the police officials also shared their practical difficulties and experience, including the process of investigation and handling of the witnesses.
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The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC today organized, for the first time, an interactive session with a group of the Delhi police officers and its present and former group of interns of Human Rights Training programme. A paper on "the Human Rights and Police" was presented by Mr. Arya Priya, a former NHRC intern, which triggered the session.
Several direct questions were raised on the methods of policing and violation of human rights , including its alleged unconstitutional and forceful eviction of the people in the middle of night on the 4-5 June ,2011 from the Ramlila ground in New Delhi, who were gathered there as part of a peaceful protest. In reply to a question, a police officer was of the view that irrespective of the orders from the senior officers, sometimes they have to use their own discretion in executing orders ,keeping in view the law, human rights and the situation on the ground.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. P C Sharma, Member, NHRC said that it is a wrong perception in the minds of some of the police officials that the Commission by raising issues of violations of human rights, at times, tends to obstruct them in their duty. He said that the police are the first custodian of the human rights and the Commission is there to rather guide and help them in this endeavour. He emphasized that investigation should never be done by the police officials under any kind of pressure or bias as it may amount to irreparable loss to the victims of such an action.
Mr. Sharma also added that the Commission recognizes that like any other citizen, the police personnel are also entitled to the human rights and has raised its voice time and again in this regard.
Mr. Sunil Krishna, Director General (Investigation), NHRC said that the police officers need to be more sensitive towards the people approaching them for registering their complaints. He hoped that this interaction will help them in passing out the message to their colleagues about the importance of human rights and expectations of the people from them. Some of the police officials also shared their practical difficulties and experience, including the process of investigation and handling of the witnesses.
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