ECR - HUMAN RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE MISSION

HUMAN RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE MISSION

Clouds of Injustice Bhopal Disaster 20 years on by Amnesty International

Twenty years ago around half a million people were exposed to toxic chemicals during a catastrophic gas leak from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. More than 7,000 people died within days. A further 15,000 died in the following years. Around 100,000 people are suffering chronic and debilitating illnesses for which treatment is largely ineffective.

The disaster shocked the world and raised fundamental questions about corporate and government responsibility for industrial accidents that devastate human life and local environments. Yet 20 years on, the survivors still await just compensation, adequate medical assistance and treatment, and comprehensive
economic and social rehabilitation. The plant site has still not been cleaned up so toxic wastes continue to pollute the environment and contaminate water that surrounding communities rely on. And, astonishingly, no one has been held to account for the leak and its appalling consequences.

Close Encounters- A Reports on Police Shoot Outs in Delhi-2004 by PUCL

On 31 March 1997 two businessmen were shot dead in breu daylight by the Delhi Police in New Delhi’s busy Connaught Place. The two men were unarmed and the police team involved planted some guns to show the killing was justified. After being caught out in the attempt, the killing was later presented as a case of ‘mistaken identity.

On 26 December 2000 one person, Abu Shamal, was picked up by the police in front of witnesses from his Batla House residence in Okhla, New Delhi and later shot dead by the police. The police alleged that he had been involved in the bomb blast in the Red Fort on 22 December 2000.

On 11 January 2002, a youth named Upender, wanted by the U.P police, was picked up by the police at night and killed outside his house in Delhi’s Pandav Nagar area in front of eyewitnesses.

On 9 May 2002, two persons named Abu Bilal and Abu Zabiullah were shot dead near the parking lot of Humayun’s tomb. The police claimed that the dead men were Pakistani militants, who with 3 Kashmiri LeT militants were planning a series of terrorist attacks There were no eyewitnesses.

Fact Finding Report on Salwa Judum-2007 in Bastar Chattisgarh by IAPL

The International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) is an international organi zation of human rights lawyers mostly coming from countries where exploitation is most severe, humanghts violations are widespread and the peoples’ struggles most intense. It has mem bers and chapters in Afghanistan, Brazil, Belgium, India, Nepal, Philippines, the Netherlands, and Turkey.

It has observers and established solidar ity linkages with lawyers from Argentina, Aus tralia, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Japan, Germany, Greece, Mexico, South Korea, North Korea, Spain, United Kingdom and The United States.

Chhattisgarh an Indian State in conflict

In October 2007, the Indian Chapter of IAPL or ganized a Fact Finding Mission to observe and report on the situation in Chhattisgarh, a highly militarized area in the centre-castern part of India. The Fact Finding Mission was composed of some of the IAPL. Board Members as well as members of the Indian Association of People’s L Lawyers the Indian Chapter of IAPL. A video tea joined the Fact Finding t team Mission. The Mission was com posed of participants coming from Belgium, Bra zil, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Turkey and India. They visited Raipur, Jagdalpur, Dantewara, and surrounding rural areas from 22nd October to 26th October 2007,

Human Rights in India by ACHR 2009

The Asian Centre for Human Rights(ACHR) publishes its 2009 Annual Report
on Human Rights in India asthe Congressled United Progressive Alliance government assumes its second term following the elections. The findings of the report are a clear challenge to the new government. ACHR argues that the new government must find new answers to the growing security problem arising out of the Naxalism.

Current security-driven responses are not working; indeed they may even be counter-productive. The report suggests that the root causes of Naxal violence, discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion must be addressed. There is an imperative need for the government to address security concerns. However, security responses of the government, whether state or central, have been resulting in human rights violations against local populations; this state violence has been feeding support for Naxalism.

The State of Human Rights in India in 2012 by AHRC

This year, there has been no remarkable improvement in the human rights scenario in India. On the contrary, the year continued to witness widespread human rights abuses in the country, peppered with scandals of corruption of catastrophic proportions. This included justice and regulatory institutions, and takes in its sweep political parties of all shades and shapes.

Human Rights Watch Report-2010

Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. Our rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy build intense pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse.

For over 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the
legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to
bring greater justice and security to people around the world.
Human Rights Watch began in 1978 with the founding of its Europe and
Central Asia division (then known as Helsinki Watch). Today, it also
includes divisions covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle
East and North Africa; a United States program; thematic divisions or
programs on arms, business and human rights, children’s rights, health
and human rights, international justice, lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender rights, refugees, terrorism/counterterrorism, and women’s
rights; and an emergencies program. It maintains offices in Amsterdam,
Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Cairo, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London,
Los Angeles, Moscow, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, Toronto,
Washington DC, and Zurich, and field presences in around a dozen more
locations globally. Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals
and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly.

Human Rights, Terrorism and Security Laws in India 2006

In 2004, India took a significant step forward for human rights by
repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002, which had established a permissive set of legal rules to prosecute acts of terrorism largely outside the ordinary rules of the regular criminal justice system. While POTA itself was enacted in the aftermath of the major terrorist attacks of 2001 in both the United States and India, the statute built upon a long tradition of antiterrorism and other security laws in India dating since well before independence.

While India has faced serious threats from terrorism and other forms of politicized violence for decades, these special antiterrorism laws have not proven particularly effective in combating terrorism. Terrorism has persisted as a problem notwithstanding these laws, under which few of the individuals
charged have been convicted. Moreover, like antiterrorism laws in other countries, including the
United States, aspects of India’s antiterrorism laws have raised significant
human rights concerns. Some of those concerns have remained even in the
aftermath of POTA’s repeal, since the Indian government has preserved
many of the law’s provisions in other statutes. Other, similar laws also remain in place at both the central and state levels, such as the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act. Attentiveness to these human rights concerns is
not simply a moral and legal imperative, but also a crucial strategic
imperative. As the Supreme Court of India has recognized, “[t]errorism often
thrives where human rights are violated,” and “[t]he lack of hope for justice
provides breeding grounds for terrorism.” Since terrorists often deliberately
seek “to provoke an over-reaction” and thereby drive a wedge between
government and its citizens – or between ethnic, racial, or religious
communities – adhering to human rights obligations when combating
terrorism helps to ensure that advocates of violence do not win sympathy
from the ranks of those harmed and alienated by the state.

Nobody’s Children: Juveniles of Conflict Affected District of India by ACHR

In the wake of the gruesome rape of a young woman on 16th December 2012 in Delhi, a heated debate has been raging at national level with respect to lowering the age of juveniles to 16 years. On 27th February 2013, the Minister for Women and Child Development told the Rajya Sabha, “We are not changing the age of juvenile as defined in the juvenile justice act, as it may hurt the larger interests of children in the country. All those under 18 years of age are juvenile.”

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 passed in the Lok Sabha on 19 March 2013 retained the age of consent for sex to 18 years. However, there are 197 districts in India which are officially notified as affected by internal armed conflicts and the edifice of the juvenile justice does not exist in these districts. Children, irrespective of their age, in these districts are treated as adult. They are routinely subjected to gross human rights violations including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, extrajudicial executions and sexual assaults as part of the counterinsurgency operations. Juveniles in these districts are denied access to juvenile justice unlike their counterparts in rest of the country. The 197 districts which have been notified as c

Amendments to Criminal Law: Justice Verma Report-2012

The constitution of this Committee is in response to the country-wide peaceful public outcry of civil society, led by the youth, against the failure of governance to provide a safe and dignified environment for the women of India, who are constantly exposed to sexual violence. The immediate cause was the brutal gang rape of a young woman in the heart of the nation’s capital in a public transport vehicle in the late evening of December 16, 2012.

We refrain from saying anything more about the incident, which is sub judice for the trial in a court of law for the offences committed by the rapists. It is unfortunate that such a horrific gang rape (and the subsequent death of the victim) was required to trigger the response needed for the preservation of the rule of law—the bedrock of a republic democracy. Let us hope that this tragedy would occasion better governance, with the State taking all necessary measures to ensure a safe environment for the women in the country, thus preventing the recurrence of such sexual violence.The urgency of the matter impelled the Committee to undertake the performance of the assigned task within the short period of 30 days to enable the authorities, with all their resources, to take the necessary follow up action within a further 30-day period, so that the same or a substantial portion of the same may be completed before commencement of the next session of the Parliament, which, we hope, will undertake the needed legislative exercise recommended by this Committee.

Kashmir Half Widow, Half Wife: APDP Report-2011

Women whose husbands have been subjected to enforced ‘disappearances’i are often called ‘half widows,’and hereinafter referred to as such. Half widows illustrate one of the starkestforms of the general insecurity in Kashmir.ii An in-depth analysis of the history of the dispute is outside the scope of this report but understanding the situational backdrop is imperative for contextualizing the issues highlighted and discussed herewith.

Kashmir has signified a major source of tension between India and Pakistan since 1947, and has seen armed conflict since 1989.iii Currently, 400,000 to 750,000 (the exact number remains unknown and disputed) Indian military and paramilitary remain in Kashmir, making this one of the world’s most militarized regions.iv By the government’s own estimates, the number of active militants is below 500.v The Indian government has passed security legislation—such as the Disturbed Areas Act, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, and the Public Safety Act—giving military and police forces special powers to suppress insurgency and maintain a fortified presence in the region.vi Indian forces have been accused (by Kashmiri, Indian and international civil society)vii of human rights abuses against civilians since 1989. By conservative estimates, 22 years of strife have seen more than 70,000 deadviii and more than 8,000 disappeared.ix In the face of these violations, failures in the justice mechanisms—in the state judiciary,x military tribunals, and State Human Rights Commissionxi—amount to impunity.

Alleged Perpetrators – Stories of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir

We are grateful to those whose work and commitments have enabled the International Peoples‘ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian-administered Kashmir [IPTK] and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons [APDP], and for the courageous support and cooperation that IPTK / APDP have received from members of marginalized communities, including and especially women and youth.

IPTK / APDP thanks concerned citizens, activists, scholars, journalists, lawyers, students, members of labour unions, grassroots leaders, and those affiliated with local civil society organizations, for generously sustaining and making possible our work. We acknowledge the solidarity of international human rights and social justice organizations and institutions, scholars, lawyers working with international humanitarian law, civil liberties and democratic rights groups in India, and advocates working with the survivors and victims in other conflict areas, and those in principled dissent to injustices perpetrated by states and groups.

Kashmir Shopian Mass Rape and Murder Report-2009: Independent Women’s Initiative for Justice

In the afternoon of 29 May, 2009, two young women left home for their orchard. Neelofar and Asiya were sisters-in-law. Neelofar had married Asiya’s brother Shakeel, and had an infant son. Asiya a schoolgoing teenager aspired to become an engineer. In the evening Shakeel learnt that Neelofar and Asiya had not returned home. These are trying times in Kashmir, and there is much cause for concern when people do not return home before dark. Shakeel began his search with friends and family.

As night set in, Shakeel sought the help of the police and together they scoured the countryside. The way to the orchard is crowded with the security forces – the District Police Lines, an army outpost and a CRPF camp, with night lights. The Rambi Ara Nallah that runs through is clearly visible to the lookouts in the CRPF camp, under the glare of the search lights. Before the Justice Jan Commission, the night guards, stated they had seen the search party, but conveniently noticed nothing for the rest of the night, and had no explanation for the mysterious appearance of the bodies. The police called off the search at 2.30 a.m. promising to restart at the crack of dawn. Around 5.30 a.m. Shakeel resumed the search. An hour later the local police joined and almost immediately the SHO Shafeeq Ahmed pointed out the spot where Neelofar’s body was found. Neelofar’s body was found at a shallow spot which is located about 100 mtrs upstream from Zavora bridge over the Rambi Ara Nallah. It was observed by Justice Jan in the First Spot Inspection that the depth of the stream around the spot would be 2 -2.5 feet, with reasonably fast flowing water, but certainly not strong current to drown an adult girl. It is pertinent to note that this exact spot had been thoroughly searched by the family and police till 2:30a.m. Asiya’s body was found further downstream, 1.5 km from the army camp. The exact spot is 1.5 km down stream from Zavora bridge. The dead body was found at an elevated dry spot in the stream.

Law Commission on Media Trial-2006

I have great pleasure in presenting to you the 200 th Report of the Law Commission on “Trial by Media: Free Speech Vs. Fair Trial Under Criminal Procedure (Amendments to the Contempt of Court Act, 1971)”. The subject was taken up suo motu having regard to the extensive prejudicial coverage of crime and information about suspects and accused, both in the print and electronic media.

There is today a feeling that in view of the extensive use of the television and cable services, the whole pattern of publication of news has changed and several such publications are likely to have prejudicial impact on the suspects, accused, witnesses and even Judges and in general, on the administration of justice. According to our law, a suspect/accused is entitled to a fair procedure and is presumed to be innocent till proved guilty in a Court of law. None can be allowed to prejudge or prejudice his case by the time it goes to trial. Art. 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech and expression and Art. 19(2) permits reasonable restrictions to be imposed by statute for the purposes of various matters including ‘Contempt of Court’. Art. 19(2) does not refer to ‘administration of justice’ but interference of the administration of justice is clearly referred to in the definition of ‘criminal contempt’ in sec. 2 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and in sec. 3 thereof as amounting to contempt. Therefore, publications which interfere or tend to interfere with the administration of justice amount to criminal contempt under that Act and if in order to preclude such interference, the provisions of that Act impose reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech, such restrictions would be valid.

Maharashtra Dhule Riots-2013 Fact Finding Report: ANHAD Finding Report: ANHAD

Dhule has been in news for past 10 days. It has been reported in the media that, a small altercation in Dhule led to an event leading to violence between Hindus and Muslims. As such death of 6 innocent youth and injuries to several more and massive loss of properties, burning of houses has taken place. The worst part of the episode is that all this has taken place with police force being very much around.

Contrary to official reports, the people in the area stated that the behavior of police was very biased against the Muslim minorities. All the youth who died were Muslims. Most of the houses which were burnt belonged to the Muslims. In the light of the disturbing reports and communications from the local activists we decided that a citizen fact finding committee should visit the Dhule, to investigate and present the facts objectively. The citizens Fact Finding Committee consisting, of Shabnam Hashmi – social activist, ANHAD Delhi, Prof Ram Puniyani of All India Secular Forum, Prof Apoorvanand of Delhi University, Adv Nihalsing B Rathod – Human Rights Law Network, Manan Trivedi, Dev Desai, Tanvi Soni, Arma th th from ANHAD, Gujarat and Azharfrom Jalgaon, visited Dhule on 13 and 14 January 2013.

Millenium Development Goals Report-2014: UN

At the turn of the century, world leaders came together at the United Nations and agreed on a bold vision for the future through the Millennium Declaration. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were a pledge to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity, and free the world from extreme poverty. The MDGs, with eight goals and a set of measurable timebound targets, established a blueprint for tackling the most pressing development challenges of our time.

This report examines the latest progress towards achieving the MDGs. It reaffirms that the MDGs have made a profound difference in people’s lives. Global poverty has been halved five years ahead of the 2015 time frame. Ninety per cent of children in developing regions now enjoy primary education, and disparities between boys and girls in enrollment have narrowed. Remarkable gains have also been made in the fight against malaria and tuberculosis, along with improvements in all health indicators. The likelihood of a child dying before age five has been nearly cut in half over the last two decades. That means that about 17,000 children are saved every day. We also met the target of halving the proportion of people who lack access to improved sources of water.

Mishra Commission Report on Minorities-I

The Commission and its Task
On 29th October 2004 the Government of India
resolved to constitute a National Commission consisting of (i) a Chairman, (ii) three Members – one of them being an Expert in Constitution and Law – and (iii) a Member-Secretary with administrative experience, to be entrusted with the following

Terms of Reference:
(a) to suggest criteria for identification of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities;
(b) to recommend measures for welfare of socially and economically backward
sections among religious and linguistic minorities, including reservation in
education and government employment; and
(c) to suggest the necessary constitutional, legal and administrative modalities
required for the implementation of its recommendations.

Mishra Commission Report on Minorities-II

1. The Government of India have constituted the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities through a Resolution, dated 29th October, 2004 to determine the criteria for identification of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities and to suggest measures for their welfare. This Commission consists of a Chairperson, three Members and a Member-Secretary.

The Terms of Reference of the Commission are: (i) to suggest criteria for identification of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities; (ii) to recommend measures for welfare of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities, including reservation in education and government employment; (iii) to suggest the necessary constitutional, legal and administrative modalities, as required for the implementation of their recommendations and to present a report of their deliberations and recommendations.

Nanavati Commission Report On Sikh Massacre 1984

The assassination of Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi on 31-10-1984, by her two Sikh security guards, led to violent attacks on Sikhs and their properties in Delhi and other parts of the country. The incidents of violence in Delhi started from the evening of 31-10-84. During the following two days fierce violence was let loose on the Sikhs and their properties. Hundreds of Sikhs were killed. Several others were injured. Their properties were looted and burnt on a very large scale.

Though the incidents of violence continued till 5-11-84 the situation started improving from 3-11-84. As a result of these riots, hundreds of Sikhs had to leave their homes and take refuge in relief camps or in other safer places. Many Sikh families lost their male members and thus suffered great emotional and heavy financial loss. Bokaro Tehsil, Chas Tehsil and Kanpur were also badly affected. The Home Minister made a statement on the floor of the Rajya Sabha that the number of Sikhs killed in Delhi during November 1984 riots was 2146; 586 persons were said to have been killed in other parts of the country during that period.

Working Group of NIC: To Study on Reports of the Riot-2007

Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh while inaugurating the
13th Meeting of the National Integration Council (NIC) highlighted the
inherent resilience of our nation, whereby democracy as a form of
government for over a billion people with different cultures, religions and
languages remained inviolate despite the worst predictions of the cassandras
of catastrophe.

The wonderful open-mindedness which enabled all religions of the world to find a place under the Indian sun and the spirit of tolerance which characterized our society for centuries has woven a vast and diverse mosaic into a secular unity. If we are not to fritter away these gains of centuries, for which others yearn all over the world, we must nip in the bud any threat to our secular fabric and nurture jealously our spirit of communal harmony.

Neemesh Commission Report on Khalid Mujahid & Tariq Qasmi

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Paid News: Press Council Sub-Committee Report 2010

“Paid News”: How corruption in the Indian media undermines democracy Preface The fifteenth general elections to the Lok Sabha took place in April-May 2009 and in order to ensure free and fair coverage by the media, the Press Council of India issued guidelines applicable to both government authorities and the press. After the elections, a disturbing trend was highlighted by sections of the media, that is, payment of money by candidates to representatives of media companies for favourable coverage or the phenomenon popularly known as ―paid news‖.

The deception or fraud that such ―paid news‖ entails takes place at three levels. The reader of the publication or the viewer of the television programme is deceived into believing that what is essentially an advertisement is in fact, independently produced news content. By not officially declaring the expenditure incurred on planting ―paid news‖ items, the candidate standing for election violates the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which are meant to be enforced by the Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Finally, by not accounting for the money received from candidates, the concerned media company or its representatives are violating the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 as well as the Income Tax Act, 1961, among other laws

People’s Tribunal on POTA 2004 and Other Security Legislation

“Mr Chairman, India has been witness to an important ongoing debate in our efforts to deal with the terrorism menace. The Prevention of Terrorism Bill is currently under consideration by our Parliament. As is normal in a democracy, a number of views have been expressed on it by politicalparties, the media, social activists and NGOs. All these are being taken into account. Necessary safeguards have been built into the provisions of the legislation to ensure that while helping us in our fight against terrorism, it does not lend itself to misuse.”

– Statement by the Indian delegation at the 58th CHR on 20 March 2002 This statement made six days before, following a vertical split in the Indian Parliament, the controversial anti-terror law, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was passed on 26 March 2002 ( Human Rights Features). The bill had been rejected by the upper house of the Indian Parliament. A Joint Session of Parliament was called when the NDA government used its majority to steamroll the bill through. This was only the third time in the history of the Indian Parliament that the extraordinary measure of calling a Joint Session was taken. POTA became law with 425 votes for the Act and 296 against, after a 10-hour debate. The opposition raised the issue of the BJP’s recent failures in preventing the escalation of violence in Gujarat, and feared that POTA would be used to target minorities and to carry out political vendettas.

Police Killing in Rural Andhra Pradesh-1992 by HRW

Human Rights Watch conducts regular, systematic investigations of human rights abuses in some seventy countries around the world. It addresses the human rights practices of governments of all political stripes,of all geopolitical alignments, and of all ethnic and religious persuasions. In internal wars it documents violations by both governments and rebel groups.

Human Rights Watch defends freedom of thought and expression, due process and equal protection of the law; it documents and denounces murders, disappearances, torture, arbitrary imprisonment, exile, censorship and other abuses of internationally recognized human rights. Human Rights Watch began in 1978 with the founding of its Helsinki division. Today, it includes five divisions covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, as well as the signatories of the Helsinki accords. It also includes four collaborative projects on arms, free expression, prison conditions, and women’s rights. It maintains offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, London, Moscow, Belgrade, Zagreb and Hong Kong. Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly.

A Study of Socio-Economic Profile & Rehabilitation Needs of Muslims in Maharashtra Prison-2011

On behalf of the Centre for Criminology and Justice, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, we wish to offer our sincere thanks to the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission (MSMC) and in particular, the Secretary of the Commission, Mr.S.E.A. Hashmi, for commissioning this research project and providing financial support to it.

Mr. Hashmi’s encouragement and constant support has gone a long way in the successful completion of this project. We would also like to thank Ms. Anna Dani, Principal Secretary (Prisons), Mr. Uddhav Kamble, Inspector General of Prisons, Maharashtra, Ms. Shobha Ohatkar, DIG Prisons (HQ) and Mr. M.D. Patil, Research Officer, Inspectorate of Prisons, Pune, for their kind support without which this project could not have been initiated. We would like to whole heartedly thank several officials in the criminal justice system for their valuable assistance in the data collection process. Some individuals that we would like to specially mention are the Superintendents of Byculla District Prison, Mumbai Central Prison, Thane Central Prison, Kalyan District Prison, Aurangabad Central Prison, Jalgaon District Prison, Nagpur Central Prison, Akola District Prison, Amravati Central Prison, Chandrapur District Prison, Nashik Central Prison, Ratnagiri Special Prison, Yerawada Central Prison, Kolhapur Central Prison, Taloja Central Prison. Also the Senior Jailors of Mumbai Central Prison and Amravati Central Prison

Mecca Masjid Blast Case of Hyderabad-2007 Report by Ravi Chandran

The Honourable Commission for Minorities Ravi Chandran Advocate Commission vide Letter No75/MC-B (2)/07-2 dated 14-09-2007 appointed the undersigned to conduct an investigation into the matter, adopting such means and methods as you deem proper ” Dr. Mahender Reddy Professor pf Forensic Department Kamineni Hospital also accompanied the team that visited the Cheraiapally Jail

The Commission also took the assistance of certain representative of NGOs to part take in the process and see for themselves the state of the persons lodged at the Cheralapalli Jail The other persons who came along with the Commission were Ms Nirmala Gopalakrishnan of Apna Watan, Ms. Anuradha of Aman Vedika and Afsar from PUKAR (COVA) At the outside the Commission would like to place on record its word of appreciation to the Jail Superintendent of the Cherapalli Jail and his support staff for giving full cooperation and letting the team meet up with the inmates in furtherance of the warrant. The staff was cooperative and did not raise any objections and extended the necessary facility and security during the course of the investigation.

Report by Justice Hegde-2013 on Manipur Killings

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India by its order dated 4m January, 2013 appointed this Commission with a direction to the undersigned to make a thorough inquiry in the first six cases detailed in “Compilation-I” filed by the Writ Petitioners in W.P.(Crl.) No. 129 of 2012, with a further direction to the Commission to record a finding regarding the past antecedents of the victims and the circumstances in which they were killed.

The Ilon’ble Apex Court has further directed the Commission to report regarding the functioning of the State Police and the Security Forces in the State of Manipur, and in case, the Commission finds that the actions of the police and/or of the security forces transgressed legal bounds.

Reports on Attacks on Christians in Kandhmal-2008

This is a report prepared jointly by a number of Rights Organisations and individuals on the large scale violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka during August-September 2008. The violence was committed by Sangh Parivar organisations, mainly the Bajrang Dal. Their political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) happens to be in power in both the States, and that has ensured that the police watched benignly as the arson and murder took place in public.

The ideology and the organization of their mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), pervades the media in both the States to such an extent that with a few honorable exceptions, the Press has reported the violence in a manner that puts the onus on the victims: they were at fault and had it coming. All the signatories to the report did not participate in every phase of the extended fact finding, but by consensus the report is brought out collectively. In relation to the attacks in Orissa, the team/teams visited victims who have taken shelter at Visakhapatnam on 18th September, the affected areas of Kandhamal during 20th – 22nd September, the displaced victims staying in camps at Bhubaneswar and Cuttack during 25th – 26th October and the displaced victims living in the Mandasa area in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh on 30th October. In relation to the more widely dispersed though less severe attacks in Karnataka, teams visited the districts of Dakshina Kannada (including Mangalore, the headquarters), Udupi, Davanagere, Chikkaballapur and the affected areas of Bengaluru city on various dates in September and October, the last being a large team’s visit to Mangalore city during 10th-11th October. The People’s Front of India, Mangalore,

Sachar Committee Report-2006

On 9 March 2005, the PMO had issued the Notification for constitution of the High Level Committee for preparation of Report on the Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India. The Terms of Reference are appended to this Report. The Committee was to consolidate, collate and analyse the above information to identifyareas of intervention by the Government to address relevant issues relating to the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community.

By the end of July the office space, staff and most of the infrastructure was in place. Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Committee was held on 21 April 2005 followed by a press conference through which the Committee requested the people of India to provide information to the Committee on the issues covered by its mandate. This was followed up by large advertisements inserted in more than 100 dailies published from different regions in various Indian languages

Sachar Committee Report Recommendation wise

There is a need for sharper focus on school education. Free and compulsory education up to the age of 14 is the responsibility of the State and the fulfilment ofthis obligation is critical for the improvements in the educational conditions of Muslims, in fact, of all socio-economically deprived children.

There is a need to ensure that all children in the age group 0-14 have access to free and high quality education It is absolutely necessary to create local community study centres for students so that they can spend a few hours to concentrate on their studies. High quality government schools be set up in areas of Muslim concentration. Exclusive schools for girls be set up. Primary education in Urdu/mother tongue be provided.

Status of Sachar Committee Report Recommendation 2013

A High Level Committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Justice (Retired) Rajinder Sachar to gather data/information for preparation of a comprehensive report on the social, economic and educational status of the Muslim community of India submittedits report (popularly known as Sachar Committee Report) on 17th November, 2006. 2. This report was tabled in both the Houses of Parliament on 30th November, 2006.

The Government took several decisions on the recommendations of the Sachar Committee and a statement in this regard was laid in both the Houses of Parliament on 31.08.2007.

The “Anti Nationals”-Arbitrary Detention & Torture of Terrorism Suspects in India-2011: Report by HRW

The policeman said to me, “Please speak to your son. Tell him that he must give us a few names. Then we will let him go.” But my son told me, “I cannot give any names wrongfully.” The police said to me, “Your son’s life will be ruined. Tell him to identify some people.”—A father whose son was detained after the 2008 Gujarat bombings, Ahmedabad, July 2009.

“You give me a stick and nothing else, no intelligence or forensic training, no education—and then you ask, why are you beating people up?” —Security analyst Ajai Sahni on why the police torture terrorism suspects, New Delhi, May 2010. On three separate days in 2008, India was plunged into panic as synchronized bombs struck three major cities, killing 152 people and injuring hundreds of others. An obscure Islamist militant group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen (IM) claimed responsibility. The bombings—first in Jaipur in May, then Ahmedabad in July, and finally New Delhi in September—were heinous crimes, targeting ordinary people in markets, hospitals, and other public places.

Torture and Impunity in India by Peoples Watch-2008

The National Project on Preventing Torture in India (NPPTI) concentrated am ong its other goals, the task of dem onstrating the actual prevalence of torture in India. Pursuant to thisim plem enting this goal, its H um an Rights D efenders under took several fact findings on police torture during the project period. T he fact findings un dertaken were followed up in alm ost 1/3 of the cases where the victim s were willing to ch allenge th eir cases with diffe ren t legal an d m eta legal interventions.

In a country where authoritie s of the instrum entalities of the State continuously deny the prevalence of torture as a routine event by the police, the extent of torture that this data indicates in 2 6 m onths in 47 districts is e xtrem e ly shocking. Each of the H um an Rights D efenders undertook m onitoring cases of police torture that were reported in the m edia as well as on the basis of intim ations that they received from prim ary sources. Projecting the intim ations received throughout the project in the 47 districts to the 620 districts in the country, our data rev eals th at there is a com m on prevalence of 1.8 m illion cases of torture, ill treatm ent and inhuman behaviour at the hands of the police alone that takes every year in this country.

Human Rights & Social Justice Mission

HUMAN RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE MISSION

Clouds of Injustice Bhopal Disaster 20 years on by Amnesty International

Close Encounters- A Reports on Police Shoot Outs in Delhi-2004 by PUCL

Fact Finding Report on Salwa Judum-2007 in Bastar Chattisgarh by IAPL

Human Rights in India by ACHR 2009

The State of Human Rights in India in 2012 by AHRC

Human Rights Watch Report-2010

Human Rights, Terrorism and Security Laws in India 2006

Nobody’s Children: Juveniles of Conflict Affected District of India by ACHR

Amendments to Criminal Law: Justice Verma Report-2012

Kashmir Half Widow, Half Wife: APDP Report-2011

Alleged Perpetrators – Stories of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir Shopian Mass Rape and Murder Report-2009: Independent Women’s Initiative for Justice

Law Commission on Media Trial-2006

Maharashtra Dhule Riots-2013 Fact Finding Report: ANHAD Finding Report: ANHAD

Millenium Development Goals Report-2014: UN

Mishra Commission Report on Minorities-I

Mishra Commission Report on Minorities-II

Nanavati Commission Report On Sikh Massacre 1984

Working Group of NIC: To Study on Reports of the Riot-2007

Neemesh Commission Report on Khalid Mujahid & Tariq Qasmi

Paid News: Press Council Sub-Committee Report 2010

People’s Tribunal on POTA 2004 and Other Security Legislation

Police Killing in Rural Andhra Pradesh-1992 by HRW

A Study of Socio-Economic Profile & Rehabilitation Needs of Muslims in Maharashtra Prison-2011

Mecca Masjid Blast Case of Hyderabad-2007 Report by Ravi Chandran

Report by Justice Hegde-2013 on Manipur Killings

Reports on Attacks on Christians in Kandhmal-2008

Sachar Committee Report-2006

Sachar Committee Report Recommendation wise

Status of Sachar Committee Report Recommendation 2013

The “Anti Nationals”-Arbitrary Detention & Torture of Terrorism Suspects in India-2011: Report by HRW

Torture and Impunity in India by Peoples Watch-2008

CONTACT NOW

HUMAN RIGHTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE MISSION

Clouds of Injustice Bhopal Disaster 20 years on by Amnesty International

Close Encounters- A Reports on Police Shoot Outs in Delhi-2004 by PUCL

Fact Finding Report on Salwa Judum-2007 in Bastar Chattisgarh by IAPL

Human Rights in India by ACHR 2009

The State of Human Rights in India in 2012 by AHRC

Human Rights Watch Report-2010

Human Rights, Terrorism and Security Laws in India 2006

Nobody’s Children: Juveniles of Conflict Affected District of India by ACHR

Amendments to Criminal Law: Justice Verma Report-2012

Kashmir Half Widow, Half Wife: APDP Report-2011

Alleged Perpetrators – Stories of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir Shopian Mass Rape and Murder Report-2009: Independent Women’s Initiative for Justice

Law Commission on Media Trial-2006

Maharashtra Dhule Riots-2013 Fact Finding Report: ANHAD Finding Report: ANHAD

Millenium Development Goals Report-2014: UN

Mishra Commission Report on Minorities-I

Mishra Commission Report on Minorities-II

Nanavati Commission Report On Sikh Massacre 1984

Working Group of NIC: To Study on Reports of the Riot-2007

Neemesh Commission Report on Khalid Mujahid & Tariq Qasmi

Paid News: Press Council Sub-Committee Report 2010

People’s Tribunal on POTA 2004 and Other Security Legislation

Police Killing in Rural Andhra Pradesh-1992 by HRW

A Study of Socio-Economic Profile & Rehabilitation Needs of Muslims in Maharashtra Prison-2011

Mecca Masjid Blast Case of Hyderabad-2007 Report by Ravi Chandran

Report by Justice Hegde-2013 on Manipur Killings

Reports on Attacks on Christians in Kandhmal-2008

Sachar Committee Report-2006

Sachar Committee Report Recommendation wise

Status of Sachar Committee Report Recommendation 2013

The “Anti Nationals”-Arbitrary Detention & Torture of Terrorism Suspects in India-2011: Report by HRW

Torture and Impunity in India by Peoples Watch-2008

CONTACT NOW

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