Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) on Friday slammed the State Government for failing to submit its reply sought by the Commission on the losses suffered and action taken during the Jat quota stir in the state.
Taking suo motu cognizance of violence during Jat quota agitation, the HHRC had issued notices to authorities concerned seeking their responses by April 18.
However, the authorities concerned have failed to submit the reply and sought more time. The Commission is conducting an independent inquiry into the incidents of violence, loot and arson during the Jat stir and is likely to come out with a report within three months.
Severely criticizing the BJP led State Government for the delay in submitting the reply, the Commission on Friday said, “The reply sent by the DGP, Haryana has defied the order of HHRC. State Government prima facie was responsible for its lackluster, insensitive and not taking timely action in dealing with Jat agitation for reservation in February.”
HHRC’s chairperson Justice Vijender Jain (retd) in his orders also questioned the State Government saying, “Is the State Human Rights Commission bound by the report of any Commission constituted by the GovernmentIJ”
The State Government has constituted a judicial inquiry by a former Judge, former DGP or an IT does not take away the right guaranteed by the Parliament to HHRC to inquire in case of violation of human rights or non-action in prevention of violation of such human rights, stated the orders.
“The people in Haryana felt that there was no government, the people in uniform abdicated their responsibility. Normal and common people have to fend themselves on their own. At this stage, Additional Advocate General has sought more time to file proper reply on behalf of the state. We think the request should not have been made. If the State government is so much concerned about the unfortunate happenings which has put to shame every citizen and human being in Haryana, the government should have filed the reply with utmost promptitude,” the HHRC observed.
Notably, the HHRC had issued notices to nine authorities seeking their reply related to the losses suffered and action taken by them during the Jat stir. The Commission had invoked Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to issue notices to the authorities, who were asked to file their responses by April 18.
The HHRC has now given three weeks time to the State Government to file its response on the issue. “The Commission could have straight away summoned for recording the evidence of the people at the helm of affairs. However, in the interest of justice and on request of Additional Advocate General, we grant three weeks time to the state functionaries to file their reply sought under previous orders dated March 4 and 9,” stated the orders.
Meanwhile, as per the report received from Haryana, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, 18000 trees were cut during the Jat agitation and this was done by the miscreants for blocking the roads and disturbing the traffic.
During the Jat agitation, 30 people were killed while more than 300 were injured as large scale violence occurred in seven districts of the state.