Three-day NHRC camp sittings in Lucknow begins

The National Human Rights Commission began its three day camp sitting at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh today.

Inaugurating it, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC, said that the Commission is continuously endeavoring to promote culture of human rights in the country. Despite the laws in place and the best efforts of the Commission, the situation of human rights does not present a colourful picture in the country and a lot needs to be done.

Justice Balakrishnan said that the Camp Sittings are an important event of the Commission and it has been visiting various states in this connection. It is also monitoring issues relating to socio- political, cultural and economic rights as well as implementation of various welfare oriented flagship programmes. Such visits help the Commission in disposal of some long pending cases of human rights violation and sensitization of officers.

He said that the Commission's teams visited violence hit Muzaffarnagar thrice and their findings, observations and recommendations will be shared with senior officers at a meeting with them on the 17th January, 2014.

Discussions with the NGOs will also be held to know issues and problems relating to human rights in the State. He described human rights defenders as crucial allies of the Commission in its commitment towards promotion and protection of human rights. He expressed the hope that the outcome of the Camp Sitting will be fruitful, he added.

During Lucknow sitting, 95 cases will be taken up for hearing. These include 5 in Full Commission sitting, 33 in the Division Bench -I and 57 in the Division Bench II.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Javed Usmani said that the protection and promotion of human rights is the first responsibility of any civilized society. The Uttar Pradesh administration has always taken the advice, directions and recommendations of the NHRC very seriously and it will continue to do so to ensure compliance thereof at the earliest.

NHRC Members, Justice D. Murugesan, Satyabrata Pal, S. C. Sinha, DG (Investigation), Kanwaljit Deol, Registrar (Law), A. K. Garg, State Principal Secretary (Home) Anil Kumar Gupta, Director General of Police Rizwan Ahmad and other senior officers of the NHRC and the state government were present.