State braces to pay for human rights violations

State braces to pay for human rights violations
HAIMA DESHPANDE

September 25: The Maharashtra government, cash-strapped as it is, has been forced to make larger allocations for the mistakes committed by its police force. Anticipating a higher number of claims made to the National Human Rights Commissioner (NHRC), it has increased the allocation for compensation almost four times, from the present Rs 10 lakh. It will now be in the region of Rs 40 lakh a year. Police excesses and an increase in custodial deaths are the reasons for the increase in allocation, said sources in the state Home Department.

The increase comes virtually on the eve of the State HRC beginning its work from October 1. All the claims in such police cases that are pending before the NHRC will be transferred to the SHRC.

Simultaneously, the Home Department has embarked on a major programme to sensitise its police force to the rights of the accused in police custody or in jail. This is the only way to bring down the claims that the state government may have to discharge, sources said. Police personnel have been been categorically told to tone down their aggression and ensure that police methods do not lead to deaths.

``The constitution of the SHRC will act as a deterrant to police excesses and brutalities against those accused in their custody. Who says there is no third-degree used by our policemen during interrogation? They are indulging in the worst kind of interrogation, as they believe that every accused has some connection to underworld dons. With the state commission all set to start work, we anticipate a sharp increase in the number of claims likely to be made,'' sources said.

Further, the government will not be in a position to defend all the cases. ``The compensation will be hefty as people are now aware of what constitutes human rights violations. Besides, there are numerous cases of human rights violations against the accused and prisoners pending before NHRC. Once these are transferred before the state commission and the decision made public, there will be more claims,'' said the source. With a severe manpower shortage and financial constraints, the state may not be in a position to verify all claims made before the commission.

However, a deputy commissioner of police defends the force saying: "Any death in police custody may not be due to police torture. The presumption that death is always due to police beating should be done away with. We are dealing with hardened criminals who do not talk easily. You want us to fight crime but demand that we treat the criminals with kid gloves. Criminals only understand the language of violence, therefore we need to use third degree.''