The present volume is an
attempt to focus attention on some key human rights issues related to some systemic
reforms like the police and judiciary and effective protection of the rights of
disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.It brings under critical scrutiny the judiciary,which
inspite of its selective activism in making fundamental rights more meaningful in facing
what Justice (Retd)V.R.Krishna Iyer calls an imminent breakdown of the system.A discussion
of the National Police Commission's Report underlines the vital need for a complete
reorganisation of the Police for democratic governance.
The book take note of
increasing realisation of people's right to information which according to
Justice(Retd)V.M.Tarkunde is a basic tenent of democracy.The other side of the coin i.e
the people's right to privacy and reputation also receives full examination.
Among the vulnerable
groups,contributors have examined the inadequacy of legislation of Women,the condition of
the Christian minority and Bohras and hitherto neglected areas of the rights of the
elderly.The book devotes two chapters on Human Rights Education whose importance is being
increasingly realised in the country.
In the section on Appendices
the book includes useful texts of the draft bills on right to information and some of the
Amnesty International's Reports on India and Stockholm Plane of Action Against
Torture.
The contributors to the volume
include:
Justice V.R.Krishna
Iyer,Justice V.M.Tarkunde,Justice H.R.Khanna,Justice Jayachandra Reddy,Justice
S.M.Daud,Mr.P.P.Rao,Dr James Massey,Mr.Asghar Ali Engineer,Ms Gauri Bajaj Malik,Dr.RM
Pal,Prof Yogesh Tayagi,Dr.Ajay Mehra,Mr.S.A.H.Rizvi,Prof Rasheeduz Zafar and Dr.Faizan
Mustafa.
The Author:Preface,Introduction,Human
Rights Situation in India:An Overview (Iqbal A Ansari) Justice,justice and Justicing (VR
Krishna Iyer) Emergency Constitutional and Legal Issues(HR Khanna)Some Aspects of Delay
and Miscarriage of Justice (SM Daud) Judiciary and Protection of Human Rights (PP Rao)
Capital Punishment in India Away from Abolition,Closer to Retention (Faizan Mustafa) The
National Police Commission:Importance and Relevance (Ajay K Mehta) UN Convention Against
Torture and Role of th e NHRC (S Ameenul Hasan Rizvi) Right to Information (VM Tarkunde)
Defamation,Libel and the Media (Mohammad Rasheeduz Zafar) Offences Against Women and
Recent Legislative Changes 9K Jayachandra Reddy) Status of the Elderly in India Promotion
of their Human rights (Gauri Bazaz Malik ) Safeguard of Minority rights in the Indian
Constitution With Special Reference to Christian (James Massey) Intra-Community Violations
of RightsThe Bohra Case (Asghar Ali Engineer) Human Rights Education in India Some
Reflections(Yogesh K Tayagi) Human Rights Education :India's Heritage (RM Pal)
Appendices: Appendix
I Freedom of Information Bill,1997 Appendix II Right to Information Bill 1996
Appendix III The Constitution (Schedule Caste)Orders (Amendment )Act 1990 Appendix IV
Amnesty International Observation on Violation of Rights in India :Pattern and Sources
Appendix V India,s third Report to the UN Human Rights Committee and Amnesty's Proposal
for improving the situation in the Country Appendix VI Amnesty international's Memorandum
on the Police Procedure & Practices in India and Bombay riots 1992-1993 Appendix VII
Stockholm Plan of Action Against Torture 1996 Appendix VII Extract on India from the 1997
Annual Report of the UN special Rapporteur on Torture
The Editor: Iqbal
A. Ansari (b. 1935) joined the Aligarh Muslim University in 1962 and retired from there as
Professor of English in 1995.His publications include the following books: The Muslim
Situation in India (Sterling 1989) Readings on Minorities: Perspectives and Documents
Volume I & II (Institute of Objective Studies New Delhi 1996) Communal Riots,the State
and Law in India, (Minorities Council of India,New Delhi 1997) Prof.Ansari has contributed
a large number of articles on human rights,minorities ,Muslims and Islam to books journal
and newspapers.His forthcoming book deals with inter-group violence and the role of law
enforcement agencies in India.
Since 1977 Prof. Ansari has been
actively associated with the Human Rights movement. In 1990 he founded with Justice
(Retired) V.M. Tarkunde the Coordination Committee on Kashmir to monitor human rights
situation and to promote dialogue on Kashmir. He is also the founder Secretary-General of
the Minorities Council of India, which seeks to secure justice for minorities and their
peaceful coexistence with the majority
