"Matter of regret" only 23 states have SHRCs: NHRC member

Pointing out that only 23 states had so far set up their own Human Rights Commissions, NHRC member Justice Cyriac Joseph termed it a "matter of regret" even as he expressed hope that the said panel would be formed soon in those states where it was absent.
"Though the Protection of Human Rights Act envisages constitution of State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC), as far as I know, only 23 states have constituted such panels; the other states do not have state human rights commissions," Joseph said.
"It is a matter of regret that those governments have not realised or recognised the need for an institution like the SHRC.

"I hope that good sense will prevail over such governments so that SHRCs are constituted in the states where they do not exist today," he said.
Joseph was speaking at the 21st foundation day function of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) here today.
He was presiding over the function in the absence of NHRC chairman Justice KG Balakrishnan, who was away from Delhi due to personal reasons.

Talking about the journey of NHRC over the last 21 years, Joseph called upon his colleagues on the panel to be "prophets of hope" for those who approached them.
"According to statistics available, during 1993-94, which was the first year, there were only 496 complaints whereas, during 2012-13, there were 1,07,650 fresh cases registered.

"This phenomenal rise in the number of cases underlines the trust, faith and confidence people have in this institution," he said.
"Let us remember that for maintaining and enhancing the credibility of NHRC, we have to be careful to maintain independence, impartiality, initiative and also manifest compassion," he said.