A high level delegation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), led by Chairperson Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, comprising Members, Justice Cyriac Joseph, Justice D. Murugesan, S.C. Sinha and senior officers will be visiting Chandigarh in connection with the Commission’s Open Hearing and Camp Sitting being held at UT State Guest House in Chandigarh from the November 26 to 28.
On the first day, after the inauguration of the Open Hearing by the NHRC Chairperson at 10:00 a.m., the Commission will hear 95 cases of aggrieved people belonging to Scheduled Caste communities and the problems faced by them in seeking justice from the Government agencies.
These complaints were received in response to the public notices published in the national and local dailies in the States of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh. In connection with these complaints, the responses of the concerned authorities have been called, which will be taken up during the Open Hearing in the presence of senior officers and the complainants.
On the second day, the Commission will take up 28 cases in the Full Commission and Division Bench Sittings in its Camp Sitting at the same venue. These cases include matters relating to detention of eight Haryana STF policemen on extortion charges, untouchability, social boycott of Dalits, death in police custody, bonded labour, female foeticide, non-supply of ration under Supplementary Nutrition Programme to Aanganwadi for food etc.
The Commission will also take up issues based on the inputs provided by its three teams recently sent to Mahendergarh in Haryana, Ferozepur in Punjab and Solan in Himachal Pradesh to monitor the delivery of social welfare programmes and schemes.
The aim of the Camp Sitting is to dispose of pending cases concerning one particular State by hearing the senior government officers; sensitize them about the importance of human rights issues; compliance of NHRC recommendations by them and meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people.
On the concluding day of the Camp Sitting, the Commission will hold a meeting with NGOs of the States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and UT of Chandigarh on human rights issues. Thereafter, the Commission will hold discussions with the Chief Secretaries/Administrator, DGPs, DMs, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers on the issues raised by the NGOs of these States and UT and on the issues raised during the Open Hearing and the Camp Sitting. (ANI)