PHRC: Oldest and well-established
We have the authority to take the cases to their logical conclusion. The commission tries it best to redress all complaints
JUSTICE IQBAL AHMED ANSARI (RETD) , chairman, Punjab Human Rights Commission
The Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC) is the oldest and the most wellestablished commission. Established in 1997, it takes up around 50 cases a day and, on average, receives more than 15,000 complaints a year.
Of the three commission members, the chairperson has to be a retired chief justice of a high court; the second member has to be a retired justice. This automatically ensures an element of effectiveness.
According to the state government act, the third member is from a political background, but he or she should also know law.
Retired chief justice of Assam, Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari is the chairman. Punjab and Haryana high court Justice (retd) Ashutosh Mohunta and Avinash Kaur, a former Shiromani Akali Dal leader from Hoshiarpur, are the other two members.
The commission also has a provision for appointment of a secretary, who should be an officer not below the rank of secretary to the state government. There is also provision for a chief investigation officer of the commission not below the rank of an inspector.
A DGP-rank officer Mohd Mustafa is posted with the commission; he has been empowered to independently investigate pending complaints with the Punjab Human Rights Commission.
“It’s a well-established commission with adequate staff and a good office. The only problem, sometimes, lies with the implementation of our orders. Few departments, especially the state police and the jails department ignore our recommendation. We have the authority to take the cases to their logical conclusion. The commission tries it best to redress all complaints,” said chairman, Justice (retd) Iqbal Ahmed Ansari.
The commission recently summoned Punjab director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora. It rejected his office’s request for exemption from personal appearance, but gave another two weeks.