Police dept worst violator of human rights, says SHRC member

Law and order issues are too vast, but the performance and attitude of the Police department in managing them is unsatisfactory. The Police department is the worst violator of human rights in the State, said Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) member C G Hungund, here on Saturday.

He was addressing the gathering during the inaugural function of a training programme on human rights, organised by JSS Law College. He said that a majority of the complaints filed with the commission were against police personnel, government organisations and officials.

Basic civic amenities too are closely associated with human rights. Medical facilities, in a majority of the district-level hospitals in the State, are pathetic and are violation of the human rights of individual patients, he maintained.

He said, “Human rights is not charity. One acquires it them virtue of life — journey between the womb and the tomb. One should be a human being first, for complete growth of human personality and non-violence is the greatest dharma.”

Despite Indian Constitution not ensuring human rights for its citizens, it has made provisions to protect them. Part III and IV of the Constitution consists of Fundamental Rights. Right to life, liberty, equality and dignity are the fundamentals of human rights, he pointed out.

In the recent past, intolerance is debated largely. Criticism is necessary for development, but it should be healthy and should not hurt an individual’s personality. Criticism and allegations are different, he said, adding, that though human rights are protected in the State, weaker sections of the society are still suffering due to exploitation.

Stressing on the global dimension of human rights, Hunagund explained, “Human rights did not have any global status before the World Wars. After the WW I and II, many countries realised the threats for human life and thus came together to constitute a global body. In India, Human Rights Protection Act was passed in 1993 and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) came into existence in 1994.”

Hunagund accused the government of not appointing chairperson for the State Human Rights Commission. The commission is functioning without a head. After S R Nayak’s retirement, three years ago, the government has not appointed a head. Meera Saxena, a retired IAS officer, is acting as chairperson of the KSHRC.

As per the norms, a retired chief justice of a High Court or a retired Supreme Court judge, with good social background, can be nominated as chairman. Pointing at S R Bannurmath, a native of Dharwad and former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, Hunagund said, “While other State governments find suitable candidates from Karnataka for the post, our government is not finding them eligible.” Bannurmath is the chairman of Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission.