Parliament Urged to Amend Human Rights Act in India
It is a common belief in India that the government-run National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a toothless department that cannot challenge government decisions effectively. As a result, succesive governments in India abuse human rights blatantly.
P. Sathasivam, Governor of Kerala and former Chief Justice of India, believes that excesses of laws, lack of awareness about them, inadequacies of the legal system, and the lack of sufficient support from the legal services authorities need to be improved to ensure protection of human rights in the country.
He also suggested that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should approach Parliament through the government to seek an ammendment in the Protection of Human Rights Act to make its recommendation effective. It should be able to execute its recommendations, he said.
Sathasivam was speaking at a function organized by NHRC in New Delhi to mark the Human Rights Day on Saturday.
Addressing the gathering, H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC said that the Commission represents the work, dedication, and relentless spirit that are vital to the realization of the vision we have for our country – the vision of freedom, justice and equality.
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He expressed confidence that by incorporating human rights as a way of life, a fundamental change can be ushered in to eradicate the scourge of poverty, ignorance, prejudices, and discrimination based on sex, caste, religion, disability and other forms, within our society.
Highlighting the significance of Human Rights Day, Justice Dattu said that let us pledge to re-dedicate ourselves to achieving a just and equitable society through upholding the principles of our Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for the protection and promotion of human dignity and the inviolable rights of all citizens of the country.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
