Human rights in peril
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 16, 2012 -
In an armed conflict state like Manipur, where cases of human rights violation are rampant, an efficient state commission to monitor and address issues of human rights violation is essential.
In fact, human rights abuses have been one of the main problems that the people of Manipur suffered for too long to recall.
In this light, it is indeed a sad commentary on the prevailing human rights scenario to know that the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has been lying defunct for the last two years, mainly because of negligence by the state government.
With its office at Lamphelpat, Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) was established on June 27, 1998 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The main purpose of the Commission is to protect human rights and prevent violation of human rights in accordance to International standards and norms.
A person can make a complaint for violation of human rights to the State Commission and expect redressal of their grievances.
Unfortunately, functioning of the State Commission has stopped since 2010 after retirement of its then Chairman Chief Justice WA Shishak and members M Gourachand, retired Colonel RK Rajendra and Ng Nongyai.
However, in accordance to section 21 of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, it is mandatory to have a functioning State Human Rights Commission in every state.
Then, why the Government of Manipur has abdicated its responsibility of making the state Human Rights Commission functional and considered it not obligatory to go with the rules of the Act.
It may recall that establishment of Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) came about following strong pressure from the public in the wake of rising cases of human rights violations.
Consequently, the Commission began providing free legal aid to victims of human rights violations in the state.
Various cases of human rights violation including forced disappearance, arrestment of 'suspects' without arrest warrants, killing of innocents in fake encounters and rape cases were brought up in the Commission, which in turn extended legal aids wherever it was necessary and the cases which it could handle and beyond its capacity were referred to the National Human Rights Commission for necessary measures.
Despite its limitation, existence of the Commission used to provide at least a ray of hope to the people who are caught in the ongoing armed conflict between the state and non-state actors.
But it is not so any more. According to our understanding, a Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court had on October 19, 2011 given instruction to the state government for filling up the vacant posts of Chairperson and Members of MHRC within four months. But even after a lapse of almost six months, there have been no such appointments.
Why it is so? Does it meant to say that there are no qualified individuals who could be elevated to these posts?
Such assumption would be nothing but a fallacy. Moreover, the state government should not pass off lack of fund as a cause for dysfunctional of the Commission because the lives of the people are far more valuable than any monetary compensation it could give.
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