Human Rights Day 2021 Events
No leniency should be shown for erring police personnel
Coimbatore Human Rights Forum (CHRF) has appealed to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu through email today appealing not to drop any punishment to police . CHRF has stated that it is concerned at the government’s move to drop punishments to the Police Personnel in the State under the Disciplinary Rules as reported in “The Hindu” dated 16.08.2021 under the caption “Government mulls dropping minor punishments against police”.
The State government had earlier made a same move in October 2002 to give general pardon to more than 600 police personnel in the State.
CHRF had filed a Writ Petition in W.P. No. 38769/2002 challenging the said move by the government stating that it would only encourage the erring police personnel to continue to commit Human Rights Violations with impunity.
It is to be noted that there are increasing instances of gross violations of Human Rights committed by the State Police force even leading to murder of citizens in their hands. None of such police personnel have been punished with maximum punishments they deserved.
Therefore, the State government should reverse its retrograde decision to drop such charges against police personnel if it is really interested to protect and promote human rights and improve the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu.
CHRF opposes any such move to show leniency or general pardon to erring police officials and other government officials because it goes against the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability for democracy.
Warm regards,
MR.V.P.SARATHI, Chairperson: Coimbatore Human Rights Forum (CHRF)
23/1, Govt. Arts College road,COIMBATORE DISTRICT, INDIA- 641018.
PHONE: 0422-4394101 MOBILE: 09842249605
E-MAIL: chrfindia@hotmail.com
https://www.coimbatorehumanrights.org/wp-admin/post-new.php
கோயம்புத்தூர் மனித உரிமைகள் மன்றம் (சிஎச்ஆர்எஃப்) காவல்துறைக்கு எதிரான எந்த தண்டனையையும் கைவிடக் கூடாது என்று தமிழக முதலமைச்சருக்கு இன்று மின்னஞ்சல் மூலம் வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்துள்ளது. “காவல்துறையினருக்கு எதிரான சிறிய தண்டனைகளை அரசு கைவிடுகிறது” என்ற தலைப்பில் 16.08.2021 தேதியிட்ட “தி இந்து” நாளிதழில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளபடி, ஒழுங்கு விதிகளின் கீழ் மாநிலத்தில் உள்ள காவல் துறை ஊழியர்களுக்கான தண்டனைகளைக் கைவிடும் அரசின் நடவடிக்கை கவலை தருவதாக CHRF தெரிவித்துள்ளது. மாநில அரசு முன்பு அக்டோபர் 2002 இல் மாநிலத்தில் 600 க்கும் மேற்பட்ட காவல்துறையினருக்கு பொது மன்னிப்பு வழங்குவதற்கான இதே நடவடிக்கையை எடுத்தது. சிஎச்ஆர்எஃப் W.P எண் 38769/2002 இல் சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் ஒரு ரிட் மனுவை தாக்கல் செய்து, அரசாங்கத்தின் மேற்கண்ட நடவடிக்கையை சவால் செய்தது. தவறு செய்யும் காவல்துறையினர், மனித உரிமை மீறல்களை தண்டனையின்றி தொடர்ந்து செய்ய மேற்கண்ட நடவடிக்கை ஊக்குவிப்பதாகக் கூறியது. மாநில காவல்துறையால் மனித உரிமைகள் மீறப்படுவது அதிகரித்து வருவதைக் கவனத்தில் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அத்தகைய காவல்துறையினர் யாரும் அதிகபட்ச தண்டனைகளுடன் தண்டிக்கப்படவில்லை. எனவே, மனித உரிமைகளைப் பாதுகாக்கவும், ஊக்குவிக்கவும், தமிழகத்தில் சட்டம் -ஒழுங்கு நிலைமையை மேம்படுத்தவும் உண்மையிலேயே அக்கறை இருந்தால் காவல் துறையினருக்கு எதிரான இத்தகைய குற்றச்சாட்டுகளை கைவிடும் மாநில அரசு தனது பிற்போக்குத்தனமான முடிவை செயல்படுத்தக் கூடாது. ஜனநாயகத்தின் வெளிப்படைத்தன்மை மற்றும் பொறுப்புக்கூறல் என்ற அடிப்படைக் கொள்கைகளுக்கு எதிராக இருப்பதால், தவறு செய்யும் காவல்துறை அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் பிற அரசு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தயவு அல்லது பொது மன்னிப்பு வழங்குவதற்கான எந்தவொரு நடவடிக்கையையும் CHRF எதிர்க்கிறது. அன்புடன், MR.V.P.SARATHI, தலைவர்: கோவை மனித உரிமைகள் மன்றம் (CHRF) 23/1, அரசு. கலைக் கல்லூரி சாலை, கோயம்பத்தூர் மாவட்டம், இந்தியா- 641018. தொலைபேசி: 0422-4394101 மொபைல்: 09842249605 மின்னஞ்சல்: chrfindia@hotmail.com
Law in India on AIDS (HIV) 2017
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, came into force on September 10, 2018. It aims to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS in the country and provides for penalties for discrimination against those affected by the virus. Introduced by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2014, the Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 22, 2017, and a month later by the Lok Sabha on April 12. It received the assent of the President on April 20, 2017.
The Act prohibits discrimination or unfair treatment of HIV-infected people on any grounds. It prohibits denial or discontinuation of healthcare services, right of movement, right to reside, purchase, rent or occupy property and hold public or private office etc.
It prohibits isolation of segregation of an HIV-positive person. Every HIV-positive person has the right to reside in a shared household and use facilities in a non-discriminatory manner.
The Act reads: “No person shall, by words, either spoken or written, publish, propagate, advocate or communicate by signs or by visible representation or otherwise the feelings of hatred against any protected persons or group of protected person.”
Under the law, no HIV-affected person can be subject to medical treatment, medical interventions or research without informed consent. Further, no HIV positive woman, who is pregnant, can be subjected to sterilisation or abortion without her consent.
No person is compelled to disclose his HIV status except by an order of the court. A breach of violation attracts a jail sentence of up to two years or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Every establishment is obligated to keep HIV-related information protected. Every HIV-positive person is compelled to take reasonable precautions to prevent the transmission of HIV to other persons.
The state and Centre must make diagnostic facilities, anti-retroviral therapy and opportunistic infection management available to all HIV-infected people, and ensure wide dissemination of the same.
Every state has to appoint one or more Ombudsmen to inquire into violations of the provisions of the Act. Within 30 days of receiving a complaint, the Ombudsman is required to pass an order as he deems fit. Failing to comply with the orders of the Ombudsman attracts a penalty of up to Rs 10,000.
According to the provisions of the Act, no HIV test, medical treatment or research will be conducted on a person without his informed consent and no person shall be compelled to disclose his HIV status for obtaining employment or services, except with his informed consent, and if required by a court order.
The legislation has provisions to safeguard the property rights of HIV positive people which explains that every HIV infected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household.
The act also prohibits any individual from publishing information or advocating feelings of hatred against HIV positive persons and those living with them.
The act seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS and creates mechanisms for redressing the complaints of persons infected with HIV and AIDS.
Government’s role to ensure relief to HIV infected people
As per the Act, Union and state governments shall take measures to:
Prevent the spread of HIV or AIDSProvide anti-retroviral therapy and infection management for persons with HIV or AIDSFacilitate their access to welfare schemes especially for women and children, among others
The government will also issue necessary guidelines with respect to protocols for HIV and AIDS-related diagnostic facilities.
Anti-retroviral therapy and opportunistic infection management will also be applicable to all persons.
The Act has also adopted ‘test and treat’ policy which means that if a person is tested HIV positive during testing, he will be entitled to free treatment by the state and central government.
It also makes it mandatory for the state government to appoint an Ombudsman to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act.
Imprisonment on violation of Act
Violation of the act — by publishing information about people living with HIV (PLHIV) or advocating hatred against them — would attract imprisonment ranging from three months to two years or a maximum fine of Rs one lakh or both.
As of now, India has the third largest number of people living with HIV with the number estimated at 21.17 lakhs
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section 3 of section 1 of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, the Central Government hereby appoints the 10th day of September 2018, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.
LAW ON HELPING ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIMS- சாலை விபத்தில் பாதிக்கப்பட்டோருக்கு உதவுவது குறித்த சட்டம்
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 12th May, 2015
No. 25035/101/2014-RS.—Whereas the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Savelife Foundation
and another V/s. Union Of India and another in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 235 of 2012 vide its order dated
29th October, 2014, interalia, directed the Central Government to issue necessary directions with regard to
the protection of Good Samaritans until appropriate legislation is made by the Union Legislature;
And whereas, the Central Government considers it necessary to protect the Good Samaritans from
harassment on the actions being taken by them to save the life of the road accident victims and, therefore,
the Central Government hereby issues the following guidelines to be followed by hospitals, police and all
other authorities for the protection of Good Samaritans, namely:-
1. (1) A bystander or good Samaritan including an eyewitness of a road accident may take an injured
person to the nearest hospital, and the bystander or good Samaritan should be allowed to leave immediately
except after furnishing address by the eyewitness only and no question shall be asked to such bystander or
good Samaritan.
(2) The bystander or good Samaritan shall be suitably rewarded or compensated to encourage other citizens
to come forward to help the road accident victims by the authorities in the manner as may be specified by
the State Governments.
(3) The bystander or good Samaritan shall not be liable for any civil and criminal liability.
(4) A bystander or good Samaritan, who makes a phone call to inform the police or emergency services for
the person lying injured on the road, shall not be compelled to reveal his name and personal details on the
phone or in person.
(5) The disclosure of personal information, such as name and contact details of the good Samaritan shall be
made voluntary and optional including in the Medico Legal Case (MLC) Form provided by hospitals.
(6) The disciplinary or departmental action shall be initiated by the Government concerned against public
officials who coerce or intimidate a bystander or good Samaritan for revealing his name or personal details.
(7) In case a bystander or good Samaritan, who has voluntarily stated that he is also an eye-witness to the
accident and is required to be examined for the purposes of investigation by the police or during the trial,
such bystander or good Samaritan shall be examined on a single occasion and the State Government shall
develop standard operating procedures to ensure that bystander or good Samaritan is not harassed or
intimidated.
(8) The methods of examination may either be by way of a commission under section 284, of the Code of
Criminal Procedure 1973 or formally on affidavit as per section 296, of the said Code and Standard
Operating Procedures shall be developed within a period of thirty days from the date when this notification
is issued.
(9) Video conferencing may be used extensively during examination of bystander or good Samaritan
including the persons referred to in guideline (1) above,who are eye witnesses in order to prevent harassment
and inconvenience to good Samaritans.
(10) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall issue guidelines stating that all registered public and
private hospitals are not to detain bystander or good Samaritan or demand payment for registration and
admission costs, unless the good Samaritan is a family member or relative of the injured and the injured is to
be treated immediately in pursuance of the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Pt. Parmanand Katara vs
Union of India & Ors [1989] 4 SCC 286.
(11) Lack of response by a doctor in an emergency situation pertaining to road accidents, where he is
expected to provide care, shall constitute “Professional Misconduct”, under Chapter 7 of the Indian Medical
Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002 and disciplinary action shall be taken
against such doctor under Chapter 8 of the said Regulations.
(12) All hospitals shall publish a charter in Hindi, English and the vernacular language of the State or Union
4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC. 1]
territory at their entrance to the effect that they shall not detain bystander or good Samaritan or ask
depositing money from them for the treatment of a victim.
(13) In case a bystander or good Samaritan so desires, the hospital shall provide an acknowledgement to such
good Samaritan, confirming that an injured person was brought to the hospital and the time and place of such
occurrence and the acknowledgement may be prepared in a standard format by the State Government and
disseminated to all hospitals in the State for incentivising the bystander or good Samaritan as deemed fit by
the State Government.
(14) All public and private hospitals shall implement these guidelines immediately and in case of
noncompliance or violation of these guidelines appropriate action shall be taken by the concerned authorities.
(15) A letter containing these guidelines shall be issued by the Central Government and the State Government
to all Hospitals and Institutes under their respective jurisdiction, enclosing a Gazette copy of this notification
and ensure compliance and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways shall publish advertisements in all national and one regional newspaper including electronic media
informing the general public of these guidelines.
2. The above guidelines in relation to protection of bystander or good Samaritan are without prejudice to the
liability of the driver of a motor vehicle in the road accident, as specified undersection 134 of the Motor
Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988).
SANJAY BANDOPADHYAYA, Jt. Secy