Establish Human Rights Courts in each district – Demands PIL

New Delhi
Hary M. Pillai

The Asian Centre for Human Rights have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court seeking directions from the court to the government of India and the Delhi government for establishment of Human Rights Courts (HRC) and appointment of Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) at these HRCs in each district of the state within the next six months.

The petitioner claimed that the non-establishment of HRCs and non-appointment of SPPs has been hampering, “trial of offences arising out of violation of human rights” and the realization of human rights.

Chapter VI of the Human Rights Act 1993, specifically sections 30 and 31, deal with establishment of HRCs and appointment of SPPs.

The petitioner has also sought directions from the court to the government, that the HRCs shall function based upon the guidelines recommended by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in its 2002-03 annual report.

They have also sought for the appointment of NHRC as a nodal agency to monitor the implementation of the court’s directions.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna issued notice to the government and the matter has been listed for hearing on June 1 next.


(2011-4-21/lawetalnews)