Chandigarh (December 10, 2009): Sikhs for Human Rights, in a press conference held here on the eve of World Human Rights Day, has expressed serious concern over deteriorating condition of Human rights in India. While addressing the media former justice and PHRO head S. Ajit Singh Bains said that on 10 December 1948 ‘Universal Declaration of Humans’ was adopted but it is unfortunate that this ‘largest democracy on earth’ is yet to learn respect for Human rights.
SFHR Chairman Harpal Singh Cheema, Advocate Lekhwinder Singh Kaliraun and Gurpreet Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib) pointed that neither judiciary nor human rights commissions in India are ready to take up many serious issues of mass level Human Rights violations like issue of ‘unidentified bodies’ in Punjab and ‘unknown graveyard’ in Kashmir. “It marks the failure of judicial process to bring justice and further opens more doors for future violations.” said HS Cheema.
Terming Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act as a masked revival of black laws like TADA and POTA, SFHR feared that they too shall be misused to suppress political movements and opponents.
SFHR pointed out fake encounters and custodial deaths often hit the headlines of newspapers in contemporary India. “Indian constitution, under Article 21, guarantees that no person shall be deprived of his personal life or liberty without due process of law, but repeated incidents of custodial deaths, illegal detention and fake encounters point out the violation of this basic human right is everyday’s affair in 21st century India.
Advocate Cheema, informed that Lakhwinder Singh Kaliraun, who was perusing many cases of human rights violations on behalf of SFHR, is now member of Central Presidium body of SFHR. “A team of advocates led by Advo. Kaliraun is looking into matters of illegal detention, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations” he informed.