Set up human rights courts : CJI

Bhopal, Sep 2 (UNI) Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal today suggested setting up of independent human rights courts and empowering the human rights commissions along with its expansion upto district and tehsil level.

Speaking on ''Role of Human Rights Commissions in Democracy'', Mr Justice Sabharwal said human rights bodies should be given more powers and made competent to help the needy so that people's faith in such institutions remains intact.

''At present, there was no provision for human rights courts'', he said, adding in the present judicial system, courts were set up by merely issuing a notification.

Stating that human rights were violated in rural areas also, the Chief Justice said people were displaced in the name of development infringing upon their rights. ''Rehabilitation work should be taken up along with development'', he added. He said attention should be given to ensure that every citizen gets clean water and environment.

Pointing out that the Human Rights Commission's priority should be to ensure justice to the victims, the CJI said it should make sure that the rights enshrined in the constitution are protected.

The CJI lauded the working of the Madhya Pradesh HRC and expressed the hope that it emerges as a role model for the entire country.

Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice A K Patnaik suggested that human rights courts should be set up in the state. He said cases relating to their violations were rarely brought up before the courts due to lack of awareness.

State HRC Chairman Justice D M Dharmadhikari said plans were afoot to extend the commission's working in rural areas also.

UNI SP AK RK1540