Punjabi version of Compendium of NHRC’s Instructions/Guidelines released

Justice J.S. Verma, Chairperson, NHRC, released the Punjabi version of the Compendium of Instructions/Guidelines on Human Rights issued by NHRC, at a function held in the office of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission in Chandigarh on 27 November 2001. These important documents were translated into Punjabi by Shri Rajender Singh, DIG (Litigation), Government of Punjab.

Addressing the gathering, the Chairperson stated that the role of the Human Rights Commission was to act as a catalyst as well as a facilitator in order to improve the quality of governance in the country. Referring to the guidelines issued by the Commission, the Chairperson observed that they were meant to regulate the exercise of discretion by the public authorities and to ensure that public power was used for public good. He added that the Rule of Law sought to reduce the area of discretion vested in public authorities to the maximum extent possible with a view to curbing the arbitrary exercise of power. He pointed out that a constable, working at the cutting edge, could not be expected to know the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the Jogender Singh case and D.K. Basu case. However, the instructions and guidelines issued by the Commission could help him perform his duties in a manner consistent with the law. The role of a Human Rights Commission is not merely to find fault but to tell people what the law is with a view to enabling them to discharge their responsibilities better. Stating that sensitization at the senior-level alone was not enough, he suggested that the instructions/guidelines must percolate to the lowest level of the administration in order to guide and to improve behaviour all along the chain of command. He urged the gathering to ensure that every potential violator of human rights became a protector of such rights and that everyone invested with public power held it in trust for the people and used it for the public good. He expressed his appreciation to the Punjab Police for having got the instructions/guidelines issued by NHRC translated into Punjabi.

The Compendium was released in the presence of Shri Justice V.K. Khanna, Chairperson of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, and the Members and senior officials of that Commission. Among others present were Shri N.K. Arora, Chief Secretary, Punjab; Shri Sarabjit Singh, Director General of Police, Punjab; Shri Vikramjit Singh, Home Secretary, Punjab and Shri H.C. Mattewal, Advocate General, Punjab.