The senior officers of the Chhattisgarh Government, who attended the hearing of the National Human Rights Commission on 30th January, 2017 were directed to inform by Friday, 3rd February, 2017 about the Action Plan of the State Government to protect human rights in Bastar in the wake of the allegations of police hostility against civil society representatives including academicians and journalists. The Commission in its suo motu cognizance of the reported allegations had observed on 16th November, 2016 that it was deeply disturbed by the state of affairs in Chhattisgarh over last one year or more.
In response, the Government of Chhattisgarh had informed that they have prepared a six point Action Plan to ensure that human rights are adequately protected in Bastar. As an urgent measure, the State Government has given standing instructions to the Special DGP/Additional DGP (Naxal Operations) to immediately recommend action to the Additional DGP (CID) in a case of gross violation of human rights wherein the action is found to be slow, lacking or inadequate at lower levels.
The other measures include:
1. Director General of Police to organise training and orientation of the police force posted in Bastar Division to sensitizes them on the human rights issues and to ensure that human rights are not violated in the course of their duties;
2. All police officers to ensure that human rights are not violated in the course of their work, be it in Naxal affected areas or elsewhere. Human Rights violations will be inviting consequences. They would also be responsible for ensuring compliance among other police personnel under their command;
3. There will be a clear, separate entry in the Annual Performance Assessment of All Indian Police Services and State Police Service Officers about their performance on human rights issues;
4. A District level Human Rights Protection Committee headed by a District Magistrate/Collector has been constituted in each of the seven Naxal affected districts of Bastar to receive complaints on human rights issues and to make suggestions to the State Government for taking necessary action. This committee comprises six district level administrative, police, law officers and two- three eminent citizens;
5. A State Human Rights Protection Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, General Administration Department. This will consider only those cases which has been not been disposed off at the district level or where the complainant is not satisfy with the action by the Districts Committee. This committee comprises seven senior level administrative, police, law officers and two-three eminent citizens/NGO Representatives.
National Human Rights Commission
