The European Union and some of its member-States will send representatives as “observers” during the January 24 hearing of human rights activist Binayak Sen's bail application in the Chhattisgarh High Court at Bilaspur.
Talking to The Hindu at an informal interaction here, Daniele Smadja, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to India, said that apart from the EU, individual member-States such as Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark, Hungary, the United Kingdom and Sweden would send their observers for the hearing.
“There are EU guidelines on human rights defenders. We give utmost attention to cases of individuals involved in the upholding of human rights. We have informed the Indian government of the decision to send observers,” she remarked.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ms. Smadja said she was mandated by her colleagues in the EU to take up the matter. She had written to Chhattishgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and the National Human Rights Commission, expressing concern about the condition of Dr. Sen, who is now under detention. “We have reasons to believe that his condition has deteriorated,” she said.
Dr. Sen's wife had also got in touch with them and the EU was in close contact with his lawyer. “We have noticed the mobilisation of the civil society groups in India and the EU having expressed concern over the issue,” she added.