The Hindu : `Speedy trial will bring down prison deaths'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

`Speedy trial will bring down prison deaths'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 6 . Expediting trial will go a long way in bringing down instances of prison deaths, S.K. Chattopadhyay, Joint Secretary, Human Rights, Union Home Ministry, said here today. A large number of prisoners who died in jails were undertrials, he said speaking at a seminar on "Human Rights-Challenges ahead", jointly organised by the Union Home Ministry and the Tamil Nadu Government.

The Centre had taken several initiatives to further the cause of human rights. There was a greater awareness among the people after the enactment of the Human Rights Act. About 60,000 petitions were received by the National Human Rights Commission during 2000-2001, up from just 16,823 in 1996-97. Twelve States had formed human rights commissions and 11 States set up courts exclusively to deal with human rights violations.

Sankar Sen, retired Director-General, NHRC, said about 80 per cent of the prisoners in jails were undertrials. Tuberculosis claimed the lives of a large number of them. He emphasised the importance of providing adequate medical facilities to prisoners.

Syed Munir Hoda, Tamil Nadu Home Secretary, said human rights could not be ensured if people did not show tolerance. Human rights were universal, indivisible and interdependent. Citizens should raise their voice wherever injustice was perpetrated. As a citizen, he welcomed public interest litigation, which provided a platform for the aggrieved poor. Mr. Hoda said Rs. 1.38 crores had been sanctioned for sensitising police personnel to human rights, and about 60,000 policemen and women were already trained.

The Director-General of Police, B.P. Nailwal (since shifted), said human rights violations were often a result of misdirected enthusiasm and occurred when the police overstepped their limits.

Everyone should realise the implications of misuse of power and authority because of corruption.

S.Ganapathy, Director-General of Police, Training, stressed the need for creation of awareness in the police, particularly at the cutting edge, of human rights.

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