Editor,
Apropos the news item captioned “Citizen moves National Human Rights Commission” (ST October 4, 2013), I was dismayed at the apparent attempt to tarnish my image and the credibility of the Meghalaya Peoples Human Rights Council (MPHRC) by one Manbha Lyngdoh. The allegation made by him is misleading and not less than a character assassination.
For the benefit of Manbha Lyngdoh, custodial deaths and human rights abuse (inhuman acts) arising out of political conflict are not the same and hence these cannot be clubbed together in looking for solutions. While striving for human rights for all, one of the mandates of MPHRC is to bring to light and to the notice of the government any inhuman abuses/violations caused by a public servant in delivering or discharging his/her duties and to seek access to justice for those victimized by such actions, of which custodial death is one.
In any political conflict human rights violations are bound to happen and often they do take an ugly turn. Manbha should know that in these situations MPHRC cannot take any punitive measures as an organisation but it is the first duty and responsibility of the government to fulfil its obligation of protecting the basic human rights of its citizens and to prevent any such violations happening right under its nose. The MPHRC is gravely concerned about the present turmoil and we have asked the state government to resolve this issue as early as possible.
The umbrella of human rights is massive and the challenges in promoting human rights remains shallow because the government has failed to adhere to many human rights instruments and standards that have been translated into the Indian legal system. In my 18 years of human rights activism at the local, national and international levels, the array of treaties establishing standards for human rights commitments are broad—from political and civil liberties to economic, social, and cultural rights to racial discrimination to the rights of women, children, and more recently the disabled. The government has failed to adhere to human rights norms as they are perceived as contradicting the local cultural or social values. The government is to be first held accountable for any denial of human rights conduct and its failure to promote the notion of “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) a blueprint accepted by the Government of India while acceding, ratifying treaties and agreements under Human Rights law and enacting them into a domestic legislation.
The complaint is immature and it appears that even the focus and scope of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and its functions is not properly understood by the complainant. Holding me accountable for the present situation is unfair. MPHRC is an independent organisation with its own area of focus. It does not function under the diktat of anyone. The intention of the complainant is nothing but a malicious, frivolous, and concocted attempt to taint my image as well as MPHRC’s and thus confuse the general public and the intelligentsia with his negative approach on addressing the core issue of Human Rights.
Yours etc….
Dino D. G. Dympep,
Chairman, Meghalaya Peoples Human Rights Council (MPHRC)
Via email
MBBS seat allotment
Editor,
For years, in Meghalaya, it is in practice to allot top ranking medical colleges (JIPMER, Puducherry; LHMC, New Delhi; MGIMS, Wardha) to the toppers of the state. Unfortunately, this year the top ranking medical colleges have been allotted to students who have scored lower marks in the open category as well as in the Tribal category for reasons best known to the minister concerned (Mr. A.L. Hek) who claims that all the allotted seats to the medical colleges under the central pool are equal (The Shillong Times 11/09/13). How can he assume that JIPMER Puducherry, for example, which is ranked number three in India on so many websites, is equal to the other nominated medical colleges (some do not even feature in the top 20 list) for Meghalaya? I guess the minister is just ignorant or chooses to be ignorant on this matter or needs a rank list of medical colleges for him to decide what is best for the students of the state.
The allotment of the MBBS seats this year should be a warning to the future students who aspire to study MBBS under the state sponsored seats that even if they are toppers in their board exams or their common entrance exams, the allotment of their seats will be at the discretion of the ignorant minister in charge and the authorities concerned…..AND NOT ON MERIT.
Yours etc.,
A distraught student
(Name withheld on request)