Rights organisations question credentials of state rights commission

Jaipur, Dec 14 (UNI) Human Rights Organisations, including the People's Union for Civil Liberties(PUCL), today alleged that the appointment of Justice NK Jain as the head of the state's Human Rights Commission was 'malafide and illegal'.

Addressing a press conference, the rights organisations said they would not co-operate with the commission headed by Justice NK Jain as the credentials of the chairman and the members are not above the board.

Noted jurist Prem Krishna Sharma and former president of the PUCL said ''the appointment of Justice Jain as chairman of the state Human Rights Commission is 'malafide' and illegal''. He said Justice Jain was heading the Himanchal Pradesh Human Rights Commission and Lokaykta when he was appointed the chairman of the Rajasthan Human Rights Commission.

Mr Sharma pointed out that according to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, a person who had served as chairman of a human rights commission is ''ineligible for further appiontment''.

Therefore his appointment is illegal.

Justice Jain was appointed on July 6.

They also questioned the credentials of the other members Sunil Malhotra and Giriraj Singh. These government officials were tained by misuse of power and corruption.

The reason for the ire of the NGOs against Justcie Jain was triggered by some of his unsual steps. He has declared the popular public trail (jansunwai) organised by the NGOs to expose corrupion in public life and bureaucracy as illegal. Kavita Srivastava, General Secretary of the state PUCL, earlier said the members of the Human Rights Commission used to attend such public trails.

Besides Justice Jain asked for the locus standi of the NGOs who represent the cause of public and private human rights violations.

UNI PJJ SHB DS1630