Seminar on Human Rights and Rule of Law
The Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy, organised a seminar on 'Human Rights and Rule of Law' on the 7th September, 2009 in Hyderabad. Delivering the inaugural address at the seminar, Shri P.C. Sharma, Member, NHRC said that often the treatment meted out to the vulnerable and marginalised groups, corruption, nexus with politicians, unflattering record of crime detection and failure of the senior officers to provide leadership and exercise supervision constitute a frontal attack on the credibility of the functioning of the police.
Elaborating more on human rights aspects, he said that there is no doubt that the state is mainly responsible for the protection of human rights through the rule of law, enforcement agencies and the courts. But, ultimately, the effective protection for human rights in a country rests on its well aware and informed citizens who should know their duties as well as fundamental rights. Member, Shri Sharma said that the challenges of the police force as a wing of governance to prevent and detect crime sometime give it the image of a repressive force violating human rights. Nevertheless, the record of the achievements of police force in upholding the integrity of the nation, in particular, has been praiseworthy.
Later, interacting with the participants of the seminar, Shri Sunil Krishna, Director General (Investigation), NHRC spoke on various aspects of the investigation of human rights violation cases. He sought to clear a myth that respecting human rights impedes effective policing. He said that if police violate human rights, they may be alienated from the community without whose co-operation job of policing becomes more difficult. That is why, the police needs to understand the human rights very thoroughly. Mr. Krishna said that keeping in mind human rights, quality standards in investigative procedures are necessary like in any other field. These would not only bring the offender to the book, but also serve as a deterrent for crimes. In this context he gave example of Canada where quality standards for investigation methods like standards related to neutrality, professionalism, thoroughness and timely handling of cases etc have been effectively adopted. The Seminar was attended by 25 senior police officers from different states and Central police organisations.
Elaborating more on human rights aspects, he said that there is no doubt that the state is mainly responsible for the protection of human rights through the rule of law, enforcement agencies and the courts. But, ultimately, the effective protection for human rights in a country rests on its well aware and informed citizens who should know their duties as well as fundamental rights. Member, Shri Sharma said that the challenges of the police force as a wing of governance to prevent and detect crime sometime give it the image of a repressive force violating human rights. Nevertheless, the record of the achievements of police force in upholding the integrity of the nation, in particular, has been praiseworthy.
Later, interacting with the participants of the seminar, Shri Sunil Krishna, Director General (Investigation), NHRC spoke on various aspects of the investigation of human rights violation cases. He sought to clear a myth that respecting human rights impedes effective policing. He said that if police violate human rights, they may be alienated from the community without whose co-operation job of policing becomes more difficult. That is why, the police needs to understand the human rights very thoroughly. Mr. Krishna said that keeping in mind human rights, quality standards in investigative procedures are necessary like in any other field. These would not only bring the offender to the book, but also serve as a deterrent for crimes. In this context he gave example of Canada where quality standards for investigation methods like standards related to neutrality, professionalism, thoroughness and timely handling of cases etc have been effectively adopted. The Seminar was attended by 25 senior police officers from different states and Central police organisations.