“Waste management is the biggest human rights issue faced by the citizens of Kerala these days. It affects a citizen’s right to life and is hence the responsibility of the government,” said P. Mohanadas, acting chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
Speaking at a national seminar on ‘Social repercussions of justice denial’ organised by the People’s Action Council for Social Justice in Kozhikode on Wednesday, he urged people to be aware of their rights and to respond to issues with civic sense.
Mr. Mohanadas pointed out that the commission had received around 15,000 complaints the previous year, and more than 25 % of them were about the police. “There are numerous instances in which the police is the biggest violator of human rights either through excessive jurisdiction, inaction or omission,” he said, urging organisations working for the protection of human rights to remind officials in all departments of their duty once in a while.
Pointing out that children and women were the victims of most human rights violations, he urged organisations such as the action council to motivate people to stand up for justice.
Medical negligence cases
He also urged the public to approach the permanent law adalat with complaints regarding medical negligence for better and speedy settlements.
Accepting a petition from Ashokan, the father of Jishnu Pranoy, the engineering student who was found dead in the hostel of Nehru College of Engineering, Pambadi, Mr. Mohanadas urged the family to continue their fight to bring the culprits to book and extended the full support of the commission.
Action council president S. Chandrasekharan Nair presided over the seminar.
