Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, Dec 10: State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) chairman Justice (retired) Bilal Nazki today said that the institutions in the State have lost credibility among masses due to their lack of functioning for last 3 decades and asked people to repose their faith on the Commission for protection of human rights.
Addressing a function organized on the occasion of Human Rights Day here at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Justice Nazki, who recently assumed the charge of Commission, said people are justified by not approaching the SHRC for redressal of their complaints.
“I don’t blame people and I don’t blame human rights activists, civil society because they don’t come to me because I don’t have credibility. And, that’s my fault and that’s not their fault. They don’t trust me and that’s not their fault that’s my fault. If you keep a Human Rights Commission without chairman for last five years, who is going to trust that Commission?” he asked.
Justice Nazki, who has also headed the Human Rights Commission in Bihar previously, said for last 30 years, every institution has suffered in the State and no institution has any credibility. “… I don’t blame anyone for this because no institution has worked for 30 years. I was told High Court orders are not implemented by the Government. Therefore people are justified in not believing us,” he said.
Citing an example over the lack of trust of people in SHRC, Justice Nazki said in last 6 months, about 100 people have been killed in Valley and not a single complaint by any eyewitness has been lodged before the Commission. “Should we start suo-moto proceedings in which I have to side with police tomorrow? (And say) Yes whatever police says is correct,” he said and sought help from Government officers, civil society members and press and asked them come forward.
Justice Nazki said that earlier he was apprehensive over taking the job of Jammu and Kashmir SHRC but added that he felt somewhere someone has to begin. “Some beginning has to be made because our State is in tears and blood from last 30 years. I am not claiming that I will change what is on ground but I will certainly try to play a small role by heading the Human Rights Commission to see at least some tears are wiped out from the eyes of poor people of this State,” he said.
He said that the SHRC as is being said is not a ‘toothless tiger’ and enjoys sufficient powers. “When I accepted the assignment I knew exactly what power is… I don’t think this is a toothless tiger. I have seen it for three years in Bihar (but) it is not a toothless tiger. We have sufficient powers in the Act provided press and power are with us,” he said.
Justice Nazki while expressing displeasure over working of the SHRC in the past said he has not seen a single order of SHRC from Kashmir where an officer was indicted. “There’s a power of indicting officers. Nobody has used that power ever,” he said, adding that the Commission should be allowed to grow so that it delivers and maintained that the High Court and SHRC can’t be same in terms of power.
“I have said it earlier also, when somebody told me why are you heading this Commission this is toothless Commission, I said every tiger is born toothless… allow me to grow and if I grow I will have biting teeth. But growth is with you. Therefore I am calling press, people, civil society and these young officers please feed me… so that I grow toothless to dangerous teeth,” he said.
The SHRC chairman in his address said that out of three areas only one has been touched in Valley and that is to redress the grievances of the people who feel that their human rights are being violated.
“All these three functions have to be done in wholesome manner. Therefore, we need the assistance of all the institutions of the State. One is its bureaucracy and police, second is the press and third and important is the people and the civil society. All these three have to work together in order to make the Commission effective,” he added.
Justice Nazki while seeking people’s cooperation said if he fails to deliver in six months as head of SHRC, he will quit. “Therefore I appeal to them please give me also a chance, believe me for six months and If I fail I will say I couldn’t fight, okay goodbye,” he said. At the same time, he said that the Commission will not be at crossroads with the Government institutions and will work with all Government departments and functionaries.
“We will not be at crossroads at the Government and its functionaries. I want to work with them so that the purpose is achieved of upholding human right of each individual of the State. If we are at cross purposes then it will not be possible,” he said.
Justice Nazki said the first towards working with Government was to have every department a nodal officer who will work more for the SHRC then for his office. “After this initiation, we will be holding courses for them that will last for two or three days where we propose to sensitise them. After the Government functionaries are sensitized, I hope the change will start taking place,” he added.
In his address, acting Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Central Kashmir Range, Swayam Prakash, assured the people that more transparency and accountability will be brought in Police Department. He said that the department is already working to sensitise its men vis-à-vis safeguarding the rights of people and more will be done in the near future.
Noted rights’ activist and lawyer, Pervez Imroz, said though a lot has to be done by State in order to provide justice to the victims of human rights’ violations but people also need to come forward before the SHRC. Also, the State Accountability Commission (SAC) member, Justice BA Kirmani, urged people to cooperate with the SHRC and give it a chance.
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