The National Human Rights Commission held a three day camp sitting at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from the 15th - 17th January, 2014. Inaugurating it, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC said that the Commission is continuously endeavoring to promote culture of human rights in the country. He said that despite laws in place and the best efforts of the Commission, the situation of human rights does not present a bright picture in the country and a lot needs to be done to improve it.
Justice Balakrishnan said that the Camp Sittings in different States are an important event of the Commission to monitor, among others, issues relating to socio- political, cultural and economic rights as well as implementation of various welfare oriented flagship programmes. Such visits also help the Commission in disposal of some long pending cases of human rights violation as well as sensitization of different stakeholders, including civil society, NGOs, government functionaries and the media.
Earlier, Shri Javed Usmani, Chief Secretary of the State Government said that the protection and promotion of human rights is the first responsibility of any civilized society. He said that the Uttar Pradesh administration would continue to follow advice and recommendations of the NHRC and ensure compliance thereof at the earliest.
During the Lucknow sitting, 95 cases concerning police action were taken up for hearing. These included 5 in Full Commission, comprising Chairperson and Members of the Commission, 33 in the Division Bench-I, comprising Justice Shri K. G. Balakrishnan and Member, Shri S.C. Sinha and 57 in the Division Bench - II, comprising Members, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri Satyabrata Pal. A total amount of Rs. 1 crore 20 lakh 50 thousand was recommended to be paid to the next of kin of the deceased in 25 cases.
The State Government was asked to improve investigation done by the CBCID in encounter and custodial death cases. The Commission also interacted with some NGOs who complained that the police was insensitive and biased against women. This issue was later brought to the notice of the senior officers at a meeting in which various issues of socio-economic importance were also discussed.
The issue of rehabilitation of the victims of communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli was also taken up. The State Government admitted that 47 persons had died in the relief camps and the Commission asked it to look into the cause of these deaths and give reasonable compensation to the bereaved families. The State Government was also asked to provide adequate protection against winter to the inmates in the camps. The Commission emphasized upon quick and expeditious action in 13 cases of crime against displaced women so that they feel safe and secure.
The implementation of various welfare schemes launched by the Central and State Governments was reviewed. The State Government explained that complaints regarding non-provision of work under MNREGA could be made on a helpline which was recently launched.
NHRC Secretary General, Dr. Parvinder Sohi Behuria, DG (Investigation), Smt. Kanwaljit Deol, Registrar (Law), Shri A. K. Garg, Joint Secretary, Shri J.S. Kochher, State Principal Secretary (Home) Shri Anil Kumar Gupta, DGP Shri Rizwan Ahmad and other senior officers of the NHRC and the State Government also attended the Camp Sitting.