NHRC holds public hearing for five NE states in Guwahati
Dispur, December 16 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) began its two-day Camp Sitting/ Open Public Hearing in Guwahati to consider the pending cases and discuss important human rights issues related to five northeastern states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim and Nagaland, today. NHRC Chairperson Justice Arun Kumar Mishra inaugurated the two-day Camp Sitting/ Open Public Hearing at a function held at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara. Inaugurating the Camp Sitting/ Open Public Hearing, NHRC Chairperson Justice Arun Kumar Mishra underlined the government’s role in defending human rights in all spheres of the society. Justice Mishra stressed on the exercise of power with more responsibility in protecting human rights of the common masses. He said, “It is the executive machinery’s job to impart justice, not the court’s job. Courts come in the picture when grievous violations take place. It is the supreme duty of the executive officers, who are in administration, to protect and uplift human rights and values.” In his address, NHRC Secretary General Bimbadhar Pradhan said that the Commission has been organising Camp Sittings/ Open Public Hearing from 2007 with the objective of quick disposal of the human rights cases at the doorstep of the complainants. These camps also help in creating awareness about human rights among officials, civil societies, and representatives of press as well as citizens. He said that public hearings at regular intervals provide a platform for speedy and timely justice to vulnerable sections of the society and strengthen partnership among the Commission, state government, civil societies, media towards protection and promotion of human rights. Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua said that human rights are related to proper implementation of social security schemes and socio-economic flagship programmes of the state and central governments. He highlighted various initiatives of the
Government of Assam in last several months to alleviate the sufferings and inconveniences of the disadvantaged sections of the state. In this regard, he referred to the government’s initiatives for smooth and flawless release of pension to widows, persons with disabilities and senior citizens and also up gradation of health infrastructure, road network in the state. The inaugural session was attended by NHRC Members – Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar and Rajiv Jain besides Assam Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice T Vaiphei, NHRC Registrar (Law) Surajit Day, Principal Secretary, Home & Political, Govt of Assam Neeraj Verma, DGP, Assam Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, senior officers of the commission and senior administrative and police officials of the five states. A total of 40 cases pertaining to five northeastern states are being taken for hearing in the two-day sitting.