NHRC to share Muzaffarnagar findings with UP Friday

The NHRC, whose teams visited violence-hit Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, will share its observations and recommendations with government officials Jan 17, the rights panel chief said Wednesday.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice (retd.) K.G. Balakrishnan was speaking on the first day of the three-day NHRC camp in the state capital.

The NHRC chief said that while the commission was endeavouring to promote human rights in India, the scenario was "not a colourful picture in the country and a lot needs to be done".

Balakrishnan underlined the significance of the NHRC camps as an important event of the commission to monitor issues relating to socio-political, cultural and economic rights as well as implementation of various welfare-oriented flagship programmes.

"Such visits help the NHRC in disposal of some long pending cases of human rights violation and sensitisation of officers," he added.

He said discussions would also be held with non-governmental organisations to know about issues and problems related to human rights in Uttar Pradesh.

Balakrishnan described human rights defenders as "crucial allies" of the commission in its commitment towards promotion and protection of rights.

During the NHRC's sitting at Lucknow, 95 cases will be taken up for hearing. These include five in full commission sitting, 33 in the division bench I, and 57 in the division bench II.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani said the state administration has "always taken the advice, directions and recommendations of the NHRC very seriously and will continue to do so".

Communal riots in Muzaffarnagar and nearby areas in September 2013 left at least 60 people dead. Nearly 50,000 people fled their homes in fear and were living in camps. At least 40 children died later in such relief camps this winter.