Magadh Mahila College Interrogates State on Violation of Human Rights

A National Seminar on "State: Protector or Violator of Human Rights" was organised during February 25-26, 2012 by Department of Political Science, Magadh Mahila College, in collaboration with PG Department of Political Science, Patna University.

Among others it was addressed by luminaries like Dr B D Sharma, well known expert on tribal issues. Gopal Krishna, a human rights and environmental health researcher spoke in the session on "Judiciary as protector -violator of human rights" which was chaired by Justice Rekha Kumari, ex-Judge Patna High Court. He cited the verdict of Indian Supreme Court in the case of Baba Ramdev wherein both Delhi Police which assaulted his followers who were asleep and Baba Ramdev were indicted. The verdict referred to Right to Sleep as a fundamental right but added that it did not apply to the homeless. Referring to court's sad verdict in the Bhopal Disaster case, he argued that the judiciary does violate human rights. He drew the attention towards the judgment of Supreme Court of Philippines which has rejected the UID/NPR/MNIC like projects that has been abandoned in China, UK, Australia and USA but in India it is being implemented without legal remedy although India's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has deemed it illegal. Underlining the relevance of judgments in US Supreme Court, he criticized its approval of unlimited electoral spending by companies as part of their freedom of expression. In India, Companies Bill, 2011 is doing the same in installments. He also referred to US Supreme Court's concern and deliberations on the power of the state to put a GPS device to track anyone without warrant as act of putting citizens under constant surveillance. He expressed his disappointment with the extremely pace of hearing by Delhi High Court in the waste to energy incinerator case as a result the toxic smoke has started entering houses, hospitals, schools etc. He wondered if the Goddess of Justice is blind, is she incapable of smelling the smoke too?.

Dr SP Singh, Registrar, Chanakya National Law University also addressed the issue besides Sikha Singh, advocate, Patna High Court.

Gopal Krishna also spoke in the session on "Violation of Human Rights in Insurgency-Affected Areas" wherein quoting Thomas Jefferson, one of framers of US constitution, he underlined that right to rebel and revolt is part of citizens residual power of revolution. Insurgency is rampant in areas which are rich in natural resources. He emphasized that as long as there is corporate funding of political parties violation of human rights in insurgency affected areas in particular and in other areas in general cannot be state. He warned against the emergence of a police state, a surveillance state in the name of 'development'. Citing statistics he countered the impression that 'development' era is unquestionably beneficial because India's share in world trade has reduced drastically in the last 300 years. The session was chaired by Neelmani, member, Bihar Human Rights Commission.

Pro Vice Chancellor J. P. Singh gave the valedictory address. D N Sahay, Chairman, A N Sinha Institute of Social Sciences, Patna was the chief guest who argued that state cannot be a violator of human rights some individuals may be so. He concluded by saying that there should be zero tolerance towards violation of human rights. Prof Shashi Sharma, head, Dept. of Political Science explained that 'state' is invisible it becomes visible through its agencies and officials. Therefore, violation of human rights by officials and agencies will have to be deemed as violation by the state.