KL Report
Jammu
While hearing a petition regarding the security of 33000 Panchayat members of Jammu and Kashmir State, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has now served a ‘final notice’ to the state government and Government of India (GoI) seeking their response in the matter.
As per this final notice issued on February 15, 2013, the NHRC while taking cognizance of the matter regarding the killing of the Panchayat members had earlier sought a report from the State government and GOI but the report has not been received within the stipulated period.
The orders 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,”
Pertinent to mention here that NHRC in December last year had served notice to Secretary Union Home Department , Chief Secretary and DGP of J & K state regarding security to elected panchayat members following a petition by RTI activist Raman Sharma. Earlier, in his petition on November 11, 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.
