While participating in the debate ‘Human rights are not a hindrance but guiding principles’ held in the IRB lecture hall on Monday, deputy commandant Surjit Singh Pawar stressed on all those engaged in law-enforcing works respecting the fundamental rights of the people.
Setting the tone of the debate, he said that the views must be all-inclusive, going beyond the contours of policing and human rights. While some spoke in favour of the theme of the debate some spoke against it, averring that too much stress on human rights prove hindrance to their discharge of duties.
The member of the jury Arvind Narayan Mishra from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University traced back the origin of the human rights commission on the global scene leading to the emergence of the same movement in India. While admitting that it is impossible to eradicate human rights violation completely, he said that things can be reduced substantially. Respect for the right of others is the bedrock of the concept of human rights. “If a human being is living peacefully while eking out his living honestly depriving him of them amounts to a gross human rights violation. Anybody who feels his fundamental rights have been compromised is free to move to court through PIl,” He said. He also cited the instance of some women being kept by ISIS as sex slaves and then sold following auction, saying that all must seriously think and work out a plan to end such detestable violation of the human rights.
Another jury member said that with the consumerism culture now reigning supreme, cases of humanity and natural resources being exploited are on the spiral. She said that filing PIl should not be deemed as the only means to seek redressal. “The community’s participation is another option left to us,” she said while cautioning the people against misusing law for self-interests.
Speaking of the plight of the police trainees who are unable to speak for themselves despite the violation of their human rights, one of the participants said that they are being forced to work 24 hours at a stretch without break. If for a moment a cop on duty dozes off things turn grim for him, he said.
The winners among 12 participants were later given prizes.