Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: Maintaining that the rights based approach leads to significant change in the quantum of benefits, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission and former Chief Justice of India, K G Balakrishnan today said that enactment of new legislations for protecting the rights of poor and deprived sections needs emphasis of the people as well as authorities for implementation of these laws.
“People will have to give emphasize for implementation of these laws by the authorities otherwise there is no use of lecturing on rights and enactment of new legislations on Right to Work, Right to Education, Right to Food etc,” he said while delivering inaugural address at the two-day National seminar on “Satyagraha, Self Discipline and Gandhi: A Discussion” at Jammu University on Wednesday.
Giving logics behind rights based approach and enactment of legislations for protection of rights of juvenile and reservation to handicapped etc, the former CJI said that the civilized society has to honour the human rights of all segments of society and work towards ending any sort of violation or discrimination for making the conditions of various segments of society conducive so that they live as honored, dignified and useful citizens of the nation.
Describing Mahatma Gandhi as a great defender of human right values, Justice Balakrishnan said that the former’s life, views and mission were still vibrant in the minds of Indian people. “Even before the declaration of Human Rights in 1948, these values were projected and propagated by Gandhi,” he said and stressed the need for inculcating these values.
Earlier, in his key note address, renowned Gandhian and Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, Dr Sudershan Iyengar said that India can contribute in a unique way if Gandhi is envoked in promoting Human Right values. “Western concept of rights and liberty are licensed with individual’s freedom only whereas Indian concept of rights arises from duty,” he explained while quoting examples from the life history of Mahatma Gandhi.
Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Prof M P S Ishar, in his presidential remarks, said that human rights assume immense significance in situations like strife and disturbed conditions. He said that it becomes really important to have due regard for human rights and the sensitivities of the people. “It is necessary that while maintaining reasonable balance in dealing with the situation, human rights violation do not get trampled,” he stressed.
Prof Arvind Jasrotia, Dean, Faculty of Law and Director, The law School, deliberated upon the importance of Satyagraha and how Mahatma Gandhi was inspired by the teachings of the Upanishads and Bhagwad Gita.
Dr J S Kochar, Joint Secretary, NHRC, shared his views on the topic of the seminar. His speech emphasized the need to sensitise students regarding human rights.
Dr S K Shukla, Assistant Director, NHRC, gave introduction of the seminar and spoke over the basic ideas of the discussion.
Dr Seema Rohmetra, Organizing Secretary, presented the formal vote of thanks and also conducted the proceedings of the event.
On first day of the seminar, two technical sessions were held, during which the participating delegates presented papers on different topics related to human rights.
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