NHRC serves final notice to JK govt on security of panchayat members

Jammu, Feb 26: In a major embarrassment to J&K government, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has served a ‘final notice’ to the State government for its failure to provide security to 33000 Panchayat members. As per the fresh notice, the Commission has taken cognizance of the killing of panchayat members in Kashmir and sought a report from the State government. “The report has not been received within the stipulated period,” the Commission notice reads. “The Commission took a very serious view and directed its Registry to issue final reminder to the concerned authority calling for the report within four weeks, failing which the Commission shall be constrained to invoke the provisions of Section-13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993,” NHRC order further reads.

                                                                  The fresh notice was served to the J&K government at a time when a sarpanch was killed in Baramulla  and security was withdrawn from the sarpanchs in Kishtwar.  However, Principal Secretary Home Suresh Kumar told Rising Kashmir that the government has not received any notice from NHRC. “Whenever we will receive the notice, the government will reply accordingly,” he said.

Notably, the NHRC had served notice to Government of India (GoI) and J&K government regarding security to elected panchayat members following a petition by an RTI activist. The notice was served following a petition of Right to Information (RTI) activist Raman Sharma regarding security of 33000 panchs and sarpanchs of Jammu and Kashmir.  The NHRC had on December 27 served notices to GoI through Secretary Department of Home, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir.

                                                                  The commission had directed the authorities to file report in matter within four weeks. “You are required to submit the requested information / report within from the date of receipt of this notice. In case you fail to submit necessary information, Commission may proceed to take such action as it deems proper,” the Commission had maintained. Earlier, in his petition on November 11, the RTI activist Raman Sharma had urged NHRC chairman to issue necessary directions to GoI and J&K government to ensure safety and security of the panchayat members in wake of life threat by militant outfits.

He had submitted that threat by militant outfits caused fear and panic among the elected panchs, sarpanchs and their family members.

http://www.risingkashmir.in/news/nhrc-serves-final-notice-to-jk-govt-on-security-of-panchayat-members-42428.aspx