The National Human Rights Commission will be holding its three day Camp Sitting at Hyderabad for the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from 22nd to 24th April, 2015 to sensitize the public servants and the people in the State on matters relating to human rights and also issues specific to these State. During its three day camp sitting, the Commission will also hold an 'Open Hearing' on 22nd April, 2015, on the problems and grievances of Scheduled Castes of the State who have complaints of atrocity committed by a public servant or of negligence by a public servant in the prevention of atrocity.

The Commission will take 37 cases in Full Commission and Division Bench Sittings in its Camp Sitting. The Commission will also hear the grievances of aggrieved people and the problems they face in seeking justice from Government agencies.

Mr. Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC will inaugurate the Open Hearing on the 22nd April, 2015 at 10.00 AM at Dr. MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad. During the Open Hearing at the same venue from 11.00 AM onwards, the Commission will hear complainants in 61 cases. The Commission has also issued notices to concerned authorities, calling for reports in these cases and they have been asked to remain present at the time of hearing of the cases. A Public notice had been issued in local English and Telugu dailies of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana inviting complaints from persons belonging to Scheduled Castes who have a complaint of atrocity committed by a public servant or of negligence by a public servant in prevention of atrocity, to send their complaints. Those complainants, on whose complaints reports have been sought from the authorities, have been requested to attend the hearing.

On the second day i.e. the 23rd April, 2015, the Commission will take up 37 cases in Full Commission and Division Bench Sittings in its Camp Sitting at Dr. MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad. These cases include matters relating to the issues of police atrocities, bonded labour/migrant labour, atrocities on scheduled castes, attacks on Christians, poor conditions of primary health centres, harassment of staff by officers of the State Govt., Death in Judicial Custody/Police Action, farmers suicide in Telangana etc.

On the concluding day of the Camp Sitting i.e. the 24th April, 2015, the Commission will hold a meeting with local NGOs from 10 AM to 11 AM. Thereafter, the Commission will hold discussions with the Chief Secretary,DGP, DMs, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers of the two States on important human rights issues relating to these states and also on issues raised by the NGOs.

The following issues are also likely to be taken up during discussion with senior officers of the State Government:
1. Bonded Labour / Migrant Labour.
2. Police Atrocities
3. Atrocities on Scheduled Castes; and Non filling of vacancies reserved for SCs.
4. Grabbing of land of SCs.
5. Implementation of flagship programmes of Government of India and other welfare Schemes of the State Government
6. Jail reforms.
7. Delay in submission of compliance report.
8. Timely submission of legible copies of reports alongwith English Translation by authorities, including Inquest Report, MER and PMR in cases of death in custody and death during the course of police action.

On the conclusion of the Camp Sitting, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC and Members of the Commission would brief the media about the outcome of the Open Hearing/Camp Sitting as well as discussions with the NGOs and senior officers of the State Governments for wider dissemination of information on the human rights issues and action taken by the NHRC for their protection and promotion. The media briefing will also be held at Dr. MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad.

The National Human Rights Commission has been organising Camp Sittings in different States with an aim to dispose of pending cases concerning one particular State by hearing the senior government officers; sensitize them about the importance of human rights issues and compliance of NHRC recommendations by them; meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people.

The National Human Rights Commission has been organising Camp Sittings in different States with an aim to dispose of pending cases concerning one particular State by hearing the senior government officers; sensitize them about the importance of human rights issues and compliance of NHRC recommendations by them; meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people.

Since its inception, the Commission has been actively engaged in protection and promotion of the rights of Scheduled Castes. Apart from taking cognizance suo-motu and on complaints relating to atrocities against Scheduled Castes, the Commission has also engaged key stakeholders on the issue; published booklets; and held training programmes and workshops aimed at sensitizing various stakeholders on the issue so as to eliminate atrocities, discrimination, and any other form of violation of their human rights.

The National Human Rights Commission, being deeply concerned about the atrocities against persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, requested Mr. K.B. Saxena, IAS (Retd.) to carry out a study in this regard and suggest appropriate recommendations. Accordingly, Mr. Saxena undertook the study and submitted his comprehensive and detailed report. This report is available on the website of Commission i.e. www.nhrc.nic.in. Among the recommendations Mr. Saxena made was one that the Commission organise at least one Open Hearing a year "where the victims of major atrocities can present their experiences and grievances in seeking justice from Government agencies.

Prior to Kerala, such 'Open Hearings' have been held in the States of Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh (for the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT Chandigarh) and Kerala.

The NHRC has also organised its 'Camp Sittings' in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengaluru, Karnataka (for four southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu), Odisha, Gujarat, Assam, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, UT Chandigarh (for the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT Chandigarh) and Kerala.

Ch. Narendra,President, Human Rights Society,Hyderabad