In absence of SHRC, Farooq Abdullah establishes separate human rights body in J&K

SRINAGAR: J&K National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah announced on Monday the formation of a new human rights body , calling it a temporary alternative to the defunct State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).

“Until statehood is restored and a formal SHRC is reestablished, this body will operate in its place,” Dr Abdullah told TOI.

The newly formed body will be headed by party legislator and retired high court judge Hasnain Masoodi . Two additional members, including a woman, will also be appointed to the human rights panel.

“We felt the need to set up this body because of the growing number of human rights issues in Jammu and Kashmir ,” Dr Abdullah said. “In the absence of an official commission, this wing will take cognisance of rights violations and ensure that concerns are raised and addressed,” he said.

In October 2019, after the nullification of Article 370, J&K SHRC was shut down, leaving hundreds of cases unresolved. The SHRC, established in 1997, had handled around 8,529 cases before it was shut down. It was the only quasi-judicial body created under the now repealed J&K Protection of Human Rights Act and was supposed to investigate human rights violations cases, particularly after insurgency erupted in Kashmir in 1990. At the time of its closure in 2019, hundreds of cases related to alleged rights violations remained pending.

“Our human rights body will look into grievances and complaints of rights violations. People will have a forum to come forward. There are serious issues, like the Public Safety Act, shifting of prisoners, and more. At the very least this body will give people a platform to articulate their concerns, and help follow up cases of human rights violations,” Hasnain Massoodi said.