[WSMDiscuss] Fwd: Corrected version - Seeking NHRC's oversight of actions taken by administrations and police departments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

[Ashish Kothari]

Friends, I am not sure this initiative has gone out on these lists. If 
it has, apologies.

ashish



-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Corrected version - Seeking NHRC's oversight of actions taken 
by administrations and police departments in response to the COVID-19 
pandemic
Date: 	Fri, 3 Apr 2020 22:52:14 +0530
From: 	Henri Tiphagne <henri at pwtn.org>
To: 	NHRC - Chairperson <chairnhrc at nic.in>
CC: 	



*‘CORRECTED VERSION, KINDLY IGNORE THE EARLIER EMAIL ON THIS SUBJECT’ *

April 3, 2020

To,

Justice (Retd.) H.L. Dattu,

Chairperson,

National Human Rights Commission,

New Delhi – 110017.

*Subject: Seeking oversight of actions taken by administrations and 
police departments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic *

Respected Justice Dattu,

We are writing to you concerning some of the pertinent human rights 
concerns amidst this 21-day period lockdown announced by Prime Minister 
Mr. Narendra Modi on March 25, 2020. The World Health Organization 
(WHO), on March 11, 2020, upgraded the status of the COVID-19 from 
epidemic to pandemic affecting world-wide. Globally, over a million 
people have tested positive, resulting in over 53,000 deaths. In India, 
the number of those who have tested positive is growing as is the death 
toll.

We appreciate that the lockdown was a necessity. However, we cannot deny 
that it has led to great hardship for the poor and vulnerable. It is 
deeply concerning that the police is continuing to treat this 
humanitarian crises as a law and order problem. In the name of ‘ensuring 
compliance with the lockdown’, there are too many reports of the police 
resorting to abusive actions, often using physical force, lathis and 
foul language, against poor, marginalised and vulnerable communities, in 
search of a safe-space and bare essentials.

This submission contains four specific concerns – cases of police 
misconduct, living conditions in judicial and non-judicial institutions, 
situation of homeless and migrant workers and children in conflict with 
law.

*1.**_Police Misconduct and Excess _*

As the 1.3 billion plus Indian population remains in lockdown, with 
basic freedoms of movement, assembly, employment, and information on 
hold, with the police as the frontline implementer in every state at 
risk to their own health and safety, police professionalism and conduct 
are prime indicators of the State’s approach in response to the pandemic.

However, as widely reported in the media and social media, and some of 
our direct encounters with the police, the police, who find themselves 
in an unexpected situation for which they have not been trained, have 
responded with excess force and insensitivity. In the immediate 
aftermath of the lockdown, several news channels and newspapers reported 
multiple instances of the use of disproportionate force on alleged 
‘lockdown violators’. Videos show vegetable vendors were slapped, 
doctors and nurses intimidated, and people brutally hit by lathis. Some 
of the police went to the extent of deflating tyres of vehicles of those 
attempting to provide essential services.

Despite clear orders by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as to what 
services are to be considered as ‘essential’, the police unleashed force 
in complete disregard. The police force across the country headed by the 
political executive has shown utter disregard towards the overall human 
rights situation at the time of a crisis. The highhandedness by the 
police on anyone and everyone out on the streets is a blatant human 
rights violation which the Hon’ble Commission should immediately take 
cognizance of.

The COVID-19 guidance issued by the OHCHR mentions that respect for 
human rights across the spectrum, including economic and social rights, 
and civil and political rights, will be fundamental to the success of 
the public health response. UN Special Rapporteurs also have asked 
States to refrain from using emergency measures to suppress human 
rights. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in a 
communication specific to India has expressed concerns over the police 
actions during the lockdown. *(Annexure 1)*

/“We understand the strains on police services at this time, but 
officers must show restraint and abide by international standards on the 
use of force and humane treatment in their efforts to respond to this 
pandemic, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s instruction.”///

The Kerala High Court in a recent suo motu order has reiterated that the 
fundamental right to life and personal liberty cannot be suspended even 
during an emergency. The court said that it is necessary to allay such 
fears among the citizens that there is an infringement of rights.

The NHRC is in a paramount position to lay down the golden standard for 
police behaviour and actions in this time of crisis. It is in this 
regard, we would like to draw your attention to a set of guidelines 
developed by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) on police 
conduct ensuring respect for human rights during the lockdown. 
*(Annexure 2) *The guidelines, setting out minimum protection measures 
to be made available for the police personnel, contain actionable 
points. Below is a summary of the areas covered for your easy reference. **

·Complete prohibition of use of force except in cases where bare minimum 
force might be required.

·Police’s role as the crucial liaison between people and essential services.

·Developing clear operating procedures and protocols on police conduct 
during their interaction with people, including those in distress and 
vulnerable groups like the migrant workers, homeless, etc.

·Refrain from detaining and arresting people, rather use warning and 
facilitation as approaches.

·Firm and timely action against police personnel prima-facie engaged in 
misconduct.

*At this stage, we the undersigned, would make following specific 
appeals – *

·In the absence of any guidelines on police operations during the 
lockdown, the Hon’ble Commission may consider examining the CHRI 
guidelines on the same and formulate its own guidelines to be followed 
by all police personnel.

·Issue immediate directions to the Director Generals of Police of all 
states asking them to urgently issue necessary directions to the police 
personnel on the above-mentioned points. A copy of compliance should be 
submitted with the Hon’ble Commission.

·Issue immediate directions to the Director Generals of Police of all 
states asking them to urgently notify the Hon’ble Commission of the 
action taken against police officials involved in misconduct during the 
lockdown.

*2.**_Living Conditions in Judicial and Non-Judicial Institutions_*

Section 12(c) of the Protection of Human Rights Acts, 1993 (PHRA) 
mandates the Hon’ble Commission to visit jail and other institution 
under the control of the state government, where persons are detained or 
lodged for purposes of treatment, reformation or protection. The mandate 
is to study the living conditions of the inmates thereof and make 
recommendations thereon to the government. During this pandemic, given 
its rapid transmission, there is an increased vulnerability among people 
living in governmental and non-governmental institutions like prisons, 
institutions set up under the juvenile justice law and other safe living 
space. Due to a common living space often densely populated, marked with 
minimal facilities, there is a higher chance of transmission of the 
virus between inmates and into society as they are released.

UN High Commissioner Bachelet has also urged all the governments to take 
urgent measures to protect the health and safety of people in detention 
and other closed facilities. According to the High Commissioner Bachelet –

/“Covid-19 has begun to strike prisons, jails and immigration detention 
centres, as well as residential care homes and psychiatric hospitals, 
and risks rampaging through such institutions’ extremely vulnerable 
populations… It is vital that governments should address the situation 
of detained people in their crisis planning to protect detainees, staff, 
visitors and of course wider society.”/

WHO has also noted how prisons and other similar enclosed places are 
some of the places most susceptible to this disease. It published 
interim guidance titled “Preparedness, prevention and control of 
COVID-19 in prisons and other places of detention,” and specially 
pointed the reason as follows:

/People deprived of their liberty, such as people in prisons, are likely 
to be more vulnerable to various diseases and conditions. The very fact 
of being deprived of liberty generally implies that people in prisons 
and other places of detention live *in close proximity with one another, 
which is likely to result in a heightened risk of person-to-person and 
droplet transmission of pathogens like COVID-19*. /

In this specific regard, an order had been passed by a bench of the 
Hon’ble Supreme Court comprising of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justices 
L.N. Rao & Surya Kant. The bench directed that all states and union 
territories were required to set up _"high level committees"_ to 
determine class of prisoners who could be released on parole for four to 
six weeks. In terms of the order, this would certainly result in 
decongestion of prisons and would in turn curb furtherance of the 
Coronavirus outbreak.

/ "The State/Union Territory could consider the release of prisoners who 
have been convicted or are undertrial for offences for which prescribed 
punishment is up to seven years or less, with or without fine, and the 
prisoner has been convicted for a lesser number of years than the 
maximum.'' /

Following this order of the Supreme Court, certain steps were taken by 
governments. *(Annexure 3) We would like to express three specific 
concerns at this stage* –

·Barring one state, where there is a reference to inmates above the age 
of 65 years, age and health related vulnerabilities of the inmates have 
been completely ignored while considering and deciding on those eligible 
for parole, furlough and bail.

·There is no information on the actions taken to ensure physical 
distancing in generally overcrowded institutions, provisions and 
allotment of masks, sanitisers, soaps, etc., by the prison departments 
and others concerned of other institutions hosting inmates.

·There is no information on any action taken towards release of inmates 
and other protection measures taken for institutions other than prisons.

We would like to *draw your attention to two specific initiatives* that 
may assist the Hon’ble Commission in its intervention –

·CHRI has also prepared a document in this regard to assist all state 
prison departments, judiciary, legal services institutions and other 
stakeholders to undertake effective measures to ensure protection of all 
inmates and authorities involved. *(Annexure 4)*

·A joint submission by 130 lawyers from Mumbai titled, ‘Recommendations 
with regards to the release of prisoners and/or detainees in other 
settings’, to the Bombay High Court, Maharashtra Government and 
Administration. *(Annexure 5)*This submission also puts forward a 
comprehensive set of guidelines.

*At this stage, we the undersigned, would make following specific 
appeals – *

·Seek urgently from the High Level Committee in all states and union 
territories about the actions taken to decongest prisons and the status 
of the same till March 31, 2020.

·Authorise Hon’ble Commission’s Prison Monitor to inquire and report 
back whether high level committees have been formed in all states and 
union territories, whether they have met and what actions have been taken.

·Direct the Chief Secretary in all states and union territories to 
submit information about the actions taken to decongest all judicial and 
non-judicial institutions hosting inmates.

·Direct the Director General of Prisons in all states and union 
territories to submit detailed reports on the prevention and protective 
actions undertaken in all prisons.

·Direct the Principal Secretary (Health) in all states and union 
territories to submit detailed reports on the prevention and protective 
actions undertaken in all judicial and non-judicial institutions hosting 
inmates.

·Submit with the High Level Committee in all states and union 
territories to consider judiciously and make assessment based on risks 
and vulnerability of the under-trials and convict prisoners. The risks 
and vulnerabilities, as also suggested by the WHO, should consider age, 
especially those above 50 years in age, disability and 
pre-existing/on-going health conditions.

·In the absence of any guidelines for judicial and non-judicial 
institutions hosting inmates during such times of pandemic, the Hon’ble 
Commission may consider examining the guidelines developed by CHRI and 
lawyers from Mumbai on the same and formulate its own guidelines to be 
followed by all prison departments.

·Most importantly, we urge the Hon’ble Commission to re-emphasise with 
all governments, the fundamental tenet of the criminal justice system in 
India – ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Discriminating undertrials, 
based on the conviction period the offences they are booked under carry, 
is condemnable. Such acts prima facie violates Article 14 (equality) of 
the Indian Constitution and potentially threaten Article 21 (Right to 
Life). The Hon’ble Commission may consider impleading before the Hon’ble 
Supreme Court, exercising its powers under the PHRA, in this regard.

*3.**_Situation of Homeless and Migrant Workers_*

In the immediate aftermath of the lockdown announcement, millions of 
migrant labourers and their children were left without shelter, 
livelihood or basic facilities. They began to cross state borders to 
reach their villages. With a sudden stopping of railways and roadways, 
the migrant workers have been left stranded on the streets with no 
source for food and other essentials.

Television and print media reported tens of thousands of men, women and 
children walked long distances in conditions of acute distress to try to 
reach their homes in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, 
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Many of them succumbed to the long walks 
and died and some of them were killed by the moving vehicles. Many were 
victims of police excesses as they beat them, made them run or punished 
them by making them sit like /‘murga’/ (rooster). All the visuals of 
these were shared widely in media and social media.

Specific interstate transit bus terminals (ISBT) across the country 
crumbled under the weight of the migrant daily wagers wanting to go 
home. This created an unprecedented situation and visuals from Delhi’s 
Anand Vihar ISBT were not only worrisome but demonstrate apathy of the 
planning of this lockdown and struggles of migrant workers. This is just 
one example.

In the absence of wages, homes and food, the migrant workers find it a 
better ‘choice’ to head back to their villages. Besides, under the 
circumstances of a pandemic and the fear it has unleashed, workers would 
like to go back to their villages and towns and be with their families. 
Such extra-ordinary situation calls for exemplary actions by the state 
to facilitate them, maintaining appropriate social and medical 
practices. We cannot but wonder what stops the Government of India from 
taking such steps to facilitate safe travel for these hapless migrant 
workers when it could do so for Indian citizens stuck overseas?

Many of the migrant workers remain stuck in several Indian cities and 
towns where they are stranded without adequate ration, cooked food and 
basic essentials. Governments have announced support in such cases, 
however, we fear that till today it is not adequate in the absence of a 
clear mechanism for doing so. Some mechanisms put in place are complex 
and cumbersome. Certain orders pass the buck from State responsibility 
to ordinary citizens. These are first-hand experiences of those involved 
in day to day relief support with the migrant workers, homeless and 
other vulnerable communities like the de-notified tribes, nomadic 
tribes, sex-workers, etc.

The existing state and district level mechanisms for providing relief 
appear to be either over-burdened or lacking expertise in such situation 
of crisis. Given that the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act) is now 
in force, it requires minimum support actions by the authorities at 
national, state and district levels to the affected communities. Despite 
appeals from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as well as Ministry of 
Labour and Employment, business establishments are shying away from 
taking responsibility of workers, of which large number were engaged as 
daily wage earners in the company supply chain.

UN High Commissioner Bachelet has also expressed distress and regret on 
the plight of millions of migrant workers in India and government 
measures that compromise individual privacy. According to her measures 
such as stamping hands, sticking notices outside residences will unduly 
stigmatise people within the community. In the statement she also 
welcomed the recent order of the Supreme Court directing the governments 
to provide enough food, water, beds and supplies as well as 
psychological counselling in shelters that should be run by volunteers 
and not security forces. *(Annexure 1)*

/“The lockdown in India represents a massive logistical and 
implementation challenge given the population size and its density and 
we all hope the spread of the virus can be checked…. It is nonetheless 
important to ensure that measures in response to the COVID-19 are 
neither applied in a discriminatory manner nor exacerbate existing 
inequalities and vulnerabilities….//In spite of all these significant 
efforts, more needs to be done as the human tragedy continues to unfold 
before our eyes.”/

There is an urgent need to set up a response system under the monitoring 
of the Hon’ble Commission at national and state levels, with the 
involvement of the State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs). *At present, 
given no public notifications, we are unaware if the offices of the 
Hon’ble Commission and SHRCs are working remotely. We would urge that 
the NHRC in coordination with the SHRCs collaborate to keep the 
implementation of state and district level relief measures under the DM 
Act.*

**

*At this stage, we the undersigned, would make following specific 
appeals – *

·Establish a dedicated 24X7 helpline, probably activating the existing 
MADAD 14433, to be the nodal helpline for all migrant workers in distress.

·Establish a system to coordinate with all the SHRCs and appealing them 
to establish state level helpline numbers to be the nodal helpline for 
all migrant workers in distress.

·Appeal to the SHRCs to be the link with the local authorities for 
ensuring timely and adequate access to relief including stay facilities 
and dry ration/cooked food sufficient for the period of their stay and 
undertake daily review, including onsite visits.

·Issue immediate directions to all state governments to evolve definite 
inclusive policies and abstain from emphasising on identity card proofs 
like the ration card, aadhar etc. to access relief services such as 
accommodation in relief camps, access to cooked food, delivery of ration 
and essentials, interim monetary relief etc. Any person, immaterial of 
being a local resident or a migrant, including homeless and vulnerable 
communities like the de-notified tribes, nomadic tribes, sex-workers 
etc, should be able to access services provided in the times of lockdown 
through relevant provisions of the DM Act.

·Establish a ‘joint working group’ at national and state levels with the 
Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Employment and, 
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, for day to 
day monitoring of the helpline.

·Direct the concerned governments to provide ex-gratia compensation to 
the families of the migrant workers who died after the lockdown. Such 
families or their representatives should be able to approach the Hon’ble 
Commission based on the specific directions.

·Direct all the state and union territory administrations, Ministry of 
Railways, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Health and Family 
Welfare and other concerned ministries to develop plan and roadmap for 
safe rescue of migrant workers stuck in other states. Where necessary, 
utilise the services of vehicles of Indian Army and para-military forces 
to ensure the safe and secure transportation of stranded workers.

·Direct all the state and union territory administrations to put in 
placeadequate quarantining facilities for migrant workers upon their 
return to villages. The directives should include guidelines for 
sensitive treatment and facilities.

·Issue public directions allowing and encouraging complaints of 
negligence or inaction by the administration during the lockdown to be 
submitted by victims themselves or on behalf of them in accordance with 
Section 12 (a) of the PHRA.

*4.**_Children in Conflict with Law_*

While the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Punjab and Haryana High 
Court has issued a direction to all Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) to 
release children on bail on the basis of nature of offence alleged 
against them, we strongly feel that the release should be on the 
basis of principles of juvenile justice laid down in Chapter 3 of the 
Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 (JJ Act). In addition to this, it should be 
on the basis of needs and risk assessment of every child. A case-to-case 
approach is necessary as in the case of children in conflict with the 
law bail is a rule and its denial an exception under Section 12 of the 
JJ Act.

Guidelines need to be put in place for child care institutions (CCIs) on 
preparedness, prevention and safety for children who will remain in 
these institutions even if a few a released. For example, directions may 
be passed for the state governments to introduce video conferencing that 
will allow children to stay in touch with their families and help in 
maintaining their emotional well-being amidst fears of spread of COVID-19.

In a situation of such a pandemic, parents/guardians should not be 
forced to take their children back as they themselves may not be in a 
condition to support their child's well-being and ensure protection.

Every child sent back should be given a sponsorship through sponsorship 
at the rate prescribed under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme 
(ICPS), routed through the District Magistrate and disbursed by the 
Probation Officer of the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).

**

*At this stage, we the undersigned, would make following specific 
appeals – *

·Direct the Union Ministry of Child and Family Development to issue 
circular to all state governments clearly directing the following:

oPreparation of a list of person(s) responsible for escorting the child 
back home.

oAdvisory laying down the procedures required to be followed for smooth 
inter and intra-state movement along with directions to the police for 
providing transport and meeting the food and boarding and lodging costs 
of the child and the escort during the transfer.

·Appeal to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights 
(NCPCR), one of the members of the statutory NHRC after the latest 
amendments to the PHRA, to ensure that the JJBs undertake adequate risk 
assessment in all cases and abide by the fundamentals of the JJ Act - 
bail is a rule and its denial an exception.

·Appeal to the NCPCR to develop guidelines for CCIs to deal with such 
situations of pandemic and lockdown.

We believe that the Hon’ble Commission and SHRCs must play a definitive 
role in upholding ALL human rights for ALL in this period of lockdown. 
In addition to the above-mentioned in this submission, we further appeal –

·Direct the Director General of Police in all states and union 
territories to register FIRs and take firms actions as per law, against 
hate speech openly being spread by television news channels and public 
figures, including politicians, to vilify minority communities, 
specifically in the context of COVID–19 spread as a result of actions 
attributed to Tableeghi Jamaat Markaz (Centre) in Delhi.

·Direct the Government of Delhi to inquire into claims that the 
aforementioned Markaz made several unsuccessful attempts to reach local 
authorities for assistance to safely transport its members out of the 
Markaz in response to calls for a lockdown, and to fix responsibility on 
authorities where administrative inaction is proved.

·Direct the Government of India to ensure high speed internet 
connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir amidst this lockdown.

·Direct the National Disaster Management Authority to submit true and 
original copies of the National Plan prepared in accordance with Sec 11 
of the DM Act.

·Direct the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Labour and 
Employment, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution 
and, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to submit their respective 
action plans (drawn based on the National Plan) in accordance with Sec 
11 (6) of the DM Act.

·Direct the State Disaster Management Authority in all states to submit 
true and original copies of the State Plan prepared in accordance with 
Sec 23 of the DM Act.

·Direct the Chief Secretary in all states to submit 
ministerial/departmental action plans (drawn based on the State Plan) in 
accordance with Sec 23 (7) of the DM Act.

Last but not the least, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) 
which holds expertise, including medical, in adverse disaster 
situations, is completely silent about how it proposes to address the 
impact of COVID-19. With 12 battalions (each battalion comprises of 18 
specialists and 45 other personnel) present across the country, role of 
the NDRF may be crucial in coordinating much of the relief work, 
especially for the migrant workers, homeless people, members of 
vulnerable communities etc. This is a disaster like no other and will 
require immediate as well as well-planned longer time disaster relief.

We thank you for your patient reading and look forward to definite 
actions on the concerns brought to your notice through this submission. 
We are willing to extend all possible support to the Hon’ble Commission 
and SHRCs in addressing human rights concerns.

Sincerely,

1

	

A. Aloysius

	

*:*

	

Convenor, Multi Stakeholder Initiative –

Tamil Nadu

2

	

Amita Joseph

	

*:*

	

Director, Business and Community Foundation

3

	

Anil Chaudhary

	

*:*

	

Convenor, People’s Commission on Shrinking Democratic Space

4

	

Aruna Roy

	

*:*

	

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan

5

	

Ashish Kothari

	

*:*

	

Pune

6

	

Bezwada Wilson

	

*:*

	

National Convenor, Safai Karmachari Andolan and 2016 Ramon Magsaysay 
Award Recipient

7

	

Babloo Loitongbam

	

*:*

	

Executive Director, Human Rights Alert

8

	

Dr. Bala Murugan

	

*:*

	

Member, Tamil Nadu Alliance

9

	

Beena Pallical

	

*:*

	

General Secretary, NCDHR & Dalit Arthik Adhikar Andolan

10

	

Bharti Ali

	

*:*

	

Executive Director, HAQ: Centre for Child Rights

11

	

Dakxinkumar Bajrange

	

*:*

	

Convenor, National Alliance Group for Denotified and Nomadic Tribes

12

	

Dhirendra Panda

	

*:*

	

Convener, Civil Society Forum on Human Rights

13

	

Enakshi Ganguly

	

*:*

	

Co-founder HAQ: Centre for Child Rights

14

	

Henri Tiphagne

	

*:*

	

Advocate & Executive Director, People’s Watch

15

	

Indira Jaising

	

*:*

	

Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

16

	

Kalpana Kannabiran

	

*:*

	

Professor & Director, Council for Social Development, Hyderabad

17

	

Kavita Srivastava

	

*:*

	

National Secretary, People’s Union for Civil Liberties

18

	

Kirity Roy

	

*:*

	

Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha

19

	

Lara Jesani

	

*:*

	

Advocate, Mumbai

20

	

Leo Saldhana

	

*:*

	

Environment Support Group, Bangalore

21

	

M.A. Britto

	

*:*

	

Convenor, Campaign Against Camp Coolie System

22

	

M.G Devasahayam

	

*:*

	

Former Army and IAS Officer

23

	

Maja Daruwala

	

*:*

	

Senior Advisor, Tata Trust and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

24

	

Mathew Cherian

	

*:*

	

CEO, Helpage India and Member of the NHRC’s Core committee on rights of 
the elderly

25

	

Mathews Philip

	

*:*

	

Executive Director, South India Cell for Human Rights Education and 
Monitoring and Member, NHRC Core Group on NGOs and Human Rights Defenders

26

	

Mayank Sinha

	

*:*

	

Secretary, National Alliance Group for Denotified and Nomadic Tribes

27

	

Medha Patkar

	

*:*

	

Narmada Bachao Andolan and National Alliance of People's Movements

28

	

Mihir Desai

	

*:*

	

Senior Advocate, Mumbai

29

	

Miloon Kothari

	

*:*

	

Independent Expert on Human Rights and Social Policy

30

	

Nikhil Dey

	

*:*

	

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan

31

	

Nitya Ramakrishnan

	

*:*

	

Advocate, New Delhi

32

	

Dr. Paul Basker

	

*:*

	

Convenor, Tamil Nadu Alliance

33

	

Paul Divakar

	

*:*

	

Chairperson, Asia Dalit Rights Forum

34

	

Pradeep Narayanan

	

*:*

	

Director, Partners in Change

35

	

Rajendra Prasad

	

*:*

	

Convenor, CACL – Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry

36

	

Dr. Ruth Manorama

	

*:*

	

Social Activist & Feminist, Former NHRC NGO Core Group Member

37

	

S.M. Prithiviraj

	

*:*

	

Convenor, Tirupur Peoples forum for environment and labour rights

38

	

Sajjad Hassan

	

*:*

	

Convenor, Citizens Against Hate

39

	

Sanjay Parikh

	

*:*

	

Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

40

	

Sanjoy Hazarika

	

*:*

	

International Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative

41

	

Prof. Shanta Sinha

	

*:*

	

Former Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

42

	

Shivani Chaudhry

	

*:*

	

Housing and Land Rights Network

43

	

Sudha Ramalingam

	

*:*

	

Advocate and Activist, Practicing in Madras High Court

44

	

Tom Thomas

	

*:*

	

CEO, Praxis – Institute for Participatory Practices

45

	

V.A. Ramesh Nathan

	

*:*

	

General Secretary, National Dalit Movement for Justice

46

	

Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi

	

*:*

	

Former Chairperson, State Commission for Women – Tamil Nadu and Former 
Vice-Chancellor, MS University – Tirunelveli

47

	

Wajahat Habibullah

	

*:*

	

Former Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities and Former Chief 
Information Commissioner of India

48

	

Wilfred Dcosta

	

*:*

	

Alliances and Linkages Convenor, Indian Social Action Forum

*/Copies to – /*

·All Members, National Human Rights Commission

·Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission

·Registrar Law, National Human Rights Commission

·Chief Justices of All High Courts through its Registrar General

·National Legal Services Authority and All State Legal Services Authority

·Chairperson and Members, All State Human Rights Commission

·Bureau Members, Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions

·Secretariat, Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions

·Secretariat, Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions

·Secretariat, Asian NGO Forum on National Human Rights Institutions

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