The National Human Rights Commission organised a three-day programme of 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' in Chandigarh for the three States of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh from the 26th-28th November, 2014. Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC inaugurated it.
95 complaints from Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh were taken up in the 'Open Hearing' on the 26th November, 2014 by three benches of Members, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S.C. Sinha.
The issues raised in the complaints related to rehabilitation of Scheduled Caste persons evicted from government land, indifference of police towards atrocities on Scheduled Castes, registration of construction workers under the 'Building, other Construction Workers (Registration of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996', encroachment on land allotted to Scheduled Castes and inaction of revenue authorities to restore possession, filling Scheduled Caste vacancies etc.
On the 27th November, 2014, pending cases were taken up in the Camp Sitting of Full Commission and Division Benches. The Full Commission took up 11 cases relating to various issues, while 17 cases of custodial deaths and police encounters were taken up by the Division Benches. Division Bench - I, comprised Members, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph and Shri S.C. Sinha. Division Bench - II, comprised Chairperson, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan and Member, Justice Shri D. Murugesan.
The issues involved in the Full Commission were related to the functioning of Aanganwadi and stoppage of Special Nutrition Programme at some places, security of school and college going girls, bonded labour, lack of infrastructure in primary schools and social boycott of Scheduled Castes in Sangrur, Punjab. While dealing with cases of custodial deaths and police encounters in the Division Benches, the Commission stressed that the police force should abide by law and recommended monetary relief to the next of kin of the victims in some cases.
On the 28th November, 2014, the Commission had a meeting with the representatives of the NGOs. They raised several issues, which included, among others, exclusion of Scheduled Castes from benefits of natural resources, lack of basic facilities in Scheduled Caste habitats, segregation of Scheduled Caste students while serving the mid-day meal in schools, discrimination in allotment of land to persons displaced after acquisition of land for a dam, excesses committed by police, problems of human rights defenders, non-registration of FIRs by police, mental health, road safety, child beggars and drug addiction in Punjab.
The issues, which emanated from the 'Open Hearing' and interaction with the representatives of NGOs, were discussed with senior officers of the Governments of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and UT Administration of Chandigarh and they promised to take every possible step to improve the implementation of various social welfare schemes. Later, the Commission briefed the media about the outcome of its 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting'.