MUTHUKANNU PAGES

I read a lengthy and interesting Tribute on Balagopal by K.G.Kannabiran published in PUCL Bulletin, January, 2010.On one occasion, if my memory goes correct, in 1992, the Puducherry Unit of the PUCL hosted the National Seminar On Abolition Of Human Rights and in that Meeting I saw him. He was so simple and sociable.With a small book shop-made for the event- on the floor of the Kamban Kalai Arangam, he exhibited the issues, pamphlets and publications relating to Civil Liberties. In his death, the Andhra Pradesh has lost a graceful leader, who always identified with the oppressed and depressed.On a National Level his passing away has created a void among the Human Rights Activists. The situation, We all know, in the Human Rights Sector is day-by-day worsening in Our Country.Many of the States have still to set up Human Rights Commission and some States and Union Territories have Human Rights Committee only without teeth.The untimely demise of a celebrated Civil Rights Activist in this j...

To His Excellency, The Lieutenant Governor, Raj Nivas, Puducherry. Respected Sir, Sub:Case of Corruption Committed by Mr.Sreedhar,S.I.of Police and Mr.Ambalavanan, Advocate- C.B.I arrest and production before the Principal and District Sessions Judge, Puducherry-Breach of Law and Order-Unruly Behaviour-Indulged By the Puducherry Police with the Connivance and support of the Higher Officials-Taking of Action under the various Laws-Immediately-Prayed. We would like to bring to your kind notice the happenings on 18, december, 2008, and the events that followed thereafter affecting the Public and disrupting normal life.One Mr.Sreedhar, Sub-Inspector of Police and another Mr.Ambalavaanan, an Advocate, both were caught red-handed, while receiving Graft from a Private party for settling a criminal Case filed by another lady in the Orleanpet Police station, by the Anti-Corruption wing of the Central Bureau Of Investigation, on 18 th December, 2008. On the...

Recently,I had come across a news item in a local daily, where a photograph of a Dalit youth appeared- a victim of police firing in Ehumalai, Tamil Nadu- dead and carried away by four policeman, each one of them holding the limbs of the body stretching it as,' a cart pulled by weary unwilling bull'.Even the last respects normally adhered to by common man was found lacking.The deep-seated allergy and imbibed casteist approach towards the underprivileged, thriving within the State Apparatus, bore testimony to such ignominy.The so called disciplined force once again stand exposed.

what has been happening for three decades and more in the Island Nation appears to be an internal affair of a country for opinion givers in the media cannot be accepted as such. A close reading of the social and political history of the Country gives clear evidences of discrimination and relentless subjugation meted out to the Tamils in the System.The unquestionable suppression and oppression suffered at the hands of the Sinhala Majority by the Tamil Citizens within the Nation at various fronts and levels and the initiative taken internally and externally to resolve the tangle through mediation have evaded resolution of the conflict for years. The himalayan efforts taken in the past to solve the conflict by the T.U.L.F. through the democratic process sustained severe jolt and in fact received a raw deal at the hands of the Sinhala chauvinism.The Tamils patience for equality and equal opportunity also did not go well with the establishment. After exhausting the channels the Tamils had ...

In Puducherry, the Government had constituted the Human Rights Committee in 2001, particularly after the Supreme Court Directions given to the Chief Justice Of the High Court of Judicature , Chennai. D.K.Basu,s case was an eye opener to almost all the Governments, to strictly instruct the Police Force, to follow the 13 guidelines issued by the Apex Court in the Case. The Government of Puducherry had in consultation with the High court had established the Human Rights Commmittee. The Parliament of India had passed the Human Rights Act in 1983 and the Act was extended to all the states of India, except Jammu and Kashmir. Thus, it had been extended to the Union Territory by endorsement in the Local Gazette by way of re-publication. Yet the Committee has not been replaced and a Commission constituted in deference to the provisions of the Central Act. In order to give more teeth and Judicial powers to deal with the complexities of human rights issues, a Commission is appropriate and nece...

This has reference to the editorial, "Modernise Police". There shall be no second opinion on the need to improve the training and performance of the Indian Police Service at the Center and the States.While doing so, the Governments shall keep in mind of the Supreme Court Judgment delivered on Police Reform in September 2006, which directed Governments to set up Independent Police Complaint Authorities composed of members selected through a transparent process and with binding powers to look into serious complaints against the Police.Further the National Police Commission in its eighth report recommended 'protection available to police officers should be withdrawn under Section 132 and 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which provide protection to various categories of Public Servants from prosecution for acts they commit in the course of performing their duties' 'Social Policing' and Indianisation of the force, are the expected cultures, apart from maintenan...

We are reminded of the Day , by the Advertisement in the Media i.e.10th December, as usual. The HUMAN RIGHTS C OMMITTEE, PUDUCHERRY publishes the TEN Prescriptions made in the D.K.BASU'S CASE by the High Court of the West Bengal to the police force in the country for conscious adoption while effecting arrest.It has been made as a custom by the establishment to commemorate the day in the news paper. Given the raising criminal record and alleged police criminal nexus reported from all the quarters.Especially the suicide cases inside the Central prison and the simmering discontent among inmates; from under trials have not been addressed by the committee.Its continued low profile in dealing with the cases of Medical Negligence; children abuse and other Human Rights issues are grave concerns. The Government of India, though have enacted the Human Rights Act, still not constituted the Human Rights courts exclusively to deal with Human rights Cases. The situation in Puducherry is ...

Recent demonstration by Tamils in Malaysia for assertion of their deprived rights. More particularly of the right to profess religion, especially after their Government bulldozing the temples of worship is dealt with by force by the Government, has invited widespread condemna tion and protest from the world community. The Tamilnadu Chief Minister led the protest.Later Indian Administration also registered its displeasure openly and formally through the diplomatic channels. Among the Indians, the Tamils constitute a majority and had suffered heavily at the hands of the colonial master-the English, in the plantations.Their plight even drew the attention of the poet Bharathi along with other tamils subjugated in other colonies as wage labourers in taming the plantations.The untold sufferings and misery they underwent during the world wars could not be forgotten. Now for the deprivation and privation endured under the British, they are demanding adequate compensation from the Government of...

[Friends are requested to do likewise and also spread the word. Sukla] To The Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, West Bengal Raj Bhavan Kolakata http://in.f86.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=governor@wb.nic.in&YY=6157&y5beta=yes&ymv=0&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b Fax: 033-22002444/ 22001649 Sub: Failure of Constitutional Machinery and Rule of Jungle in Nandigram Sir, At the very outset, as a conscientious citizen of India, let me express my deepest appreciation of your statement on Nandigram expressing your profound disquiet over the state sponsored war launched by the CPIM cadres on Nandigram and its hapless and defenceless villagers. As we all are aware soon after Ms Brinda Karat, a Politburo member of the CPIM and a Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal – thanks to the amended rule allowing outsiders to get elected, called upon her party cadres in a strikingly ugly and obscene delivery – the video footage of which is available at l...

I come from the Union Territory of Puducherry, which has no record of encounter murders, except case of lock-up deaths. I am extremely happy to participate in the all India Conference. I am particularly thankful to Mr.Agni Subramaniam, the President of'Agni'. Also I extend my gratitude to the organisers of the event for providing me an opportunity, to meet and listen to the speakers and acquaint with their rich and varied experiences. our organisation had a humble beginning in 1989, dedicated to the cause of human rights in Pondicherry. on behalf of the Federation, I would like to share with you a few thoughts, on the topic 'Encounter murders- caste, religious Background' Encounter murders are basically against the spirit of the Constitution of India, which assures the right to freedom of life to all citizens. Whereas, the Indian Penal code, under chapter 7 has provided for physical elimination of a person by a police officer, in exercise of self defence. This anamalous...