PUSHED TO THE MARGIN
* One Muslim among the organisation’s 20 members since 1993
* None of its 16 Nodal Officers is a Muslim
* None of the 21 SHRC chairpersons is a Muslim
* Four Muslims among 180 members and officials at SHRCs
HUMAN rights are basic rights and freedoms guaranteed to all people regardless of race, gender, religion, or any other attribute. These rights are universal and inalienable, and cannot be revoked and relinquished under any circumstances. Human rights are critical for promoting dignity, equality, and justice in society. The United Nations established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. Unfortunately, abuses of human rights continue to occur in several places across the world, more prominently in India.
Discrimination, torture, arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions are all examples of human rights breaches, undermining the concepts of justice, equality, and democracy. Human rights transgressions are frequently committed by governments seeking to suppress dissent, opposition, or criticism. Scheduled Castes confront several types of discrimination and violence. The police have often been accused of employing excessive force against them, resulting in several deaths in custody. Similarly, Muslims have continued facing police assaults in and outside their custody.
There have been complaints of police violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Registry of Citizens (NRC). Muslims have also been detained under harsh laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the National Security Act (NSA), both of which allow for detention without trial and have been condemned for being used to silence dissent. There have been several violent atrocities, including mob lynchings of Muslims and Dalits.
Preventing violations of human rights is a complex and ongoing process that requires continuous efforts from governments and civil society organisations. Official institutions to promote and preserve human rights are a key protection to ensure that individuals have recourse and a remedy when mistreated. A dynamic and autonomous human rights commission plays a key role. In July 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Committee published a series of findings about India after reviewing the country’s record. The panel, comprising 18 independent experts, monitored implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In its findings, the committee voiced concern about discrimination and violence against minority groups, including religious minorities like Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The committee expressed concern that some provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts and counter-terrorism laws are not in compliance with the ICCPR. It also voiced concern over the application of counter-terrorism laws for decades in “disturbed areas” – districts in Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam, which it said has led to widespread and grave human rights violations, including excessive use of force leading to unlawful killings, prolonged arbitrary detention, sexual violence, forced displacement and torture.
Human rights are primarily overseen in India by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs). The NHRC, established in 1993 as an independent statutory body, acts as a watchdog for human rights violations across the country. The SHRCs focus on violations within their respective states. They investigate complaints of human rights violations, review existing laws, recommend measures for effective implementation of international human rights covenants, and promote human rights awareness.
The NHRC can inquire into human rights violations, visit prisons, and recommend compensation to victims. It has the powers of a civil court in judicial proceedings. While the NHRC can make recommendations, they are not binding on authorities. SHRCs work in coordination with the NHRC to protect and promote human rights. As of now, 27 SHRCs are functioning in India to protect rights related to life, liberty, equality, and the dignity of individuals. Between December 2023 and November 2024 alone, the NHRC registered 65,973 cases and disposed of 66,378 cases, including those carried forward from previous years.
Of the 10 chairpersons and 17 secretaries-general, respectively at NHRC, none had been a Muslim, according to a new book by Mohammed Abdul Mannan, At The Bottom Of The Ladder: State Of The Indian Muslims – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GF1Q9R25 – which quantified Muslim presence in 150 key organisations, including Union ministries, departments, and organisations.
Of the 20 members/ex officio members, only one had been a Muslim – Justice Fatima Beevi. None of the 16 of its present Nodal Officers is a Muslim. Only three are Muslims among 64 Nodal Officers of States and Union Territories. They are from Maharashtra, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Bihar. None is a Muslim among the 15 Special Rapporteurs. Only two are Muslims among the 16 Special Monitors. NHRC has only two Muslims among its 74 officials. At the state level, none of the 21 chairpersons had been a Muslim. Among the 180 Members, Secretaries, Registrars, and Senior Administration Staff, only four are Muslims, as of April 2024.
To read and obtain more data, please visit:
At the Bottom of the Ladder: State of the Indian Muslims –https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GF1Q9R25
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