New Delhi, Aug 19: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a personal summons to the J&K Chief Secretary for an appearance next month before the Commission on the terror victim's petition.
The notice was issued by Assistant Registrar (Law) NHRC, Debindra Kundra, on August 14 on behalf of the Commission. A complaint was moved in July 2020 by Rajinder Premi, son of Sarwanand Koul Premi, a well-known Kashmiri Pandit writer and poet who was killed along with his son by militants in April 1990 in the NHRC.
The complaint was regarding the government's apathy towards the plight of terrorism-affected families in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir by delaying the implementation of the decision of the Division Bench of the erstwhile Jammu Kashmir State Human Rights Commission.
The Commission, while taking up the matter on June 2, 2023, inter alia observed and directed that with regard to the enforcement of violations of human rights, there cannot be any uncertainty or infirmity. “…. In a constitutional democracy, there may be changes in the executive government as well as in policy-making, but with regard to the enforcement of violations of human rights, there cannot be any uncertainty or infirmity with regard to the implementation and effectuation of the directives of the Human Rights Commission unless such a recommendation or directive of the Commission is called into question under judicial review before the Constitutional Court,” the NHRC said.
The NHRC said the Commission observed that despite these directions and reminders, the state authorities are not responding without any basis. The Commission observed that despite direction, the Chief Secretary, UT of Jammu and Kashmir, has failed to submit an additional report in light of proceedings dated June 2 of the Commission to date. Taking a serious view of the same, the Commission directed its Registry to issue a summons to the Chief Secretary, UT of Jammu and Kashmir, under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, for appearance before the Commission on September 22, at 11 a.m. in its office at New Delhi, along with the requisite additional report in light of proceedings dated June 2 of the Commission in the matter. “Should however the requisite reports be received on or before September 15, the personal appearance of the aforesaid authority shall be dispensed with,” the notice issued read. (Agencies)
