New Delhi: Having drawn a blank from Parliament and the administrative set-up. It is to the Supreme Court that the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Tribes is looking for redress to one of the major problems being faced by the Tribal communities, Breaking tradition by addressing the Press directly, the Commissioner, Dr. B.D. Sharma, said that a letter on that subject written by him to the Chief Justice of India has been treated a public Interest writ petition. Notice had been Issued to the Government. It was a “unique situation” Dr. Sharma said, “where a Constitutional authority would be a petitioner against the Union and State Governments on matters conceding the fundamental rights of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes and sacking the directions of the highest court in the land on vital legal issues, questioning the basic frame Itself as also conscious distortions by the concerned authorities which not only deny the people justice, but even subjects them to Injustice, harassment and torture.” The continuing dissonance between the legal frame and the traditions of Tribal communities has led to criminalization of their social and economic system itself. The tribal people are completely helpless in the face of the omnipotent system. The criminalization of entire communities in tribal areas is the darkest blot on the liberal tradition of our country.” Dr. Sharma said the two reports of the Commission prepared during his stewardship had not even been discussed in Parliament – though the ritual of laying them on the table had been duly completed. He had often pointed out to the Governors that they had overriding powers in tribal arca’s but not once in 40 years had such powers been exercised. It was against the background of such in different response that he had written to the Chief Justice, and now the Supreme Court had reacted. (Statesman Dec 16)
New Delhi: Amnesty International has once again expressed serious concern over the human rights situation In India. In a summary report for 1990, it has reiterated its charge that thousands of political prisoners, including “prisoners of conscience”, were being detained without trial and that torture and ill-treatment in custody continued to be widespread in the country. Significantly, the organization has asserted that more than 100 peaceful demonstrators had been extrajudicially executed during the past year. The summary statement, which is essentially an update of the annual report for 1990, also secks clarification from the Government about the “disappearance” of dozens of prisoners in Punjab. The human rights group appears to be especially alarmed about the detentions under the so- called “anti-terrorist laws” and the Arms Act and in this context, has referred to the arrest of 250 political leaders and human rights activists in Punjab last month. The report also wonders how peaceful critics in Gujarat could be arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act. According to the agency several hundred cases of extrajudicial executions have been reported. In this connexon, it mentions Kashmir where more than 110 unarmed civilians were “deliberately” shot during Jan. to Sept. this year, under cover of the Armed Forces Special Power Act which provides immunity from prosecution to security men who kill. Amnesty International has also received similar reports from Punjab where security forces continue to hold “staged encounters” Certain such executions have also been undertaken In Andhra Pradesh. What’s more, the report states that three persons could have been extrajudicially executed in U.P. during October and November. In this context, court orders issued to security forces to produce missing detainees have also been flouted, says the report. (Statesman Dee, 19,90)
