NHRC asked to take action on Delhi violence
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 28 2020:
Members of the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) has appealed the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to exercise its bounden Statutory duties in lightof the communal violence which has gripped the National capital.
A joint statement issued by the members conveyed that at least five days have passed since the outbreak of communal violence in parts of North East Delhi.
From February 24 onwards, media reportage has highlighted multiple instances of failure of the police to prevent and control the violence, as well as shocking incidents (available on video) of the police participating in communal/political sloganeering, enabling mob violence, and instances of complicity in targeted attack on members of the Muslim community, it alleged, adding that even after three days, the death toll continues to rise, with the dead including police personnel, Hindus and Muslims.
Many have suffered grievous injuries including permanent disability such as loss of eyesight.
The destruction of property and loss of livelihood has crippled many others, it pointed out.
However it lamented that it appears the NHRC might have to be reminded of its statutory mandate, which amongst other things, empowers the Commission to take Suo Motu action in the face of human rights violations, particularly acts of omission and commission by public servants.
It must also be pointed out that the mandate and powers of the Commission are independent of assurances or action that may be being taken by other State actors or institutions, it explained.
The NHRC needs to recall its own rich legacy where the institution had proactively responded to situations of human rights violations, including the targeted attacks on Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 .
The NHRC has in the past played a critical role in securing accountability and justice in cases of communal attacks or State violence, it added.
Ask if the NHRC's working is in keeping with the 'A' status of accreditation accorded by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), it questioned if the NHRC's silence, at this critical juncture, does not undermine and harm its statutory mandate.