Days after Jammu and Kashmir government turned down the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) recommendation seeking Rs 10 lakh compensation for a civilian who was used as human shield by Army on April 9 in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Chairman SHRC on Monday directed government to appear before it and justify it’s case.
State Human Rights Commission took serious note of the points made by government with regard to human shield case saying that it is a sensitive matter that needs to be looked into seriously.
SHRC has asked government to pay a compensation Rs one lakh to victim Farooq Ahmed Dar of Budgam, however, government refused to implement the recommendations on the ground that
“no allegation of human rights violation has been levelled by the applicant against the state or its any functionary.”
The government also questioned the rights body’s jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.
On Monday the representatives of the government and the victim himself along with Chairman International Forum for Justice Muhammad Ahsan Untoo appeared before the Commission. The Commission raised objections over the government stand and asked it to argue the case before the Commission on December 12 this year.
“It is a sensitive matter. Government should clear it’s stand,” Chairman SHRC Retired Justice Bilal Ahmed Nazki said.
The government was represented by Additional Advocate General MM Khan and Chief Prosecuting Officer Mumtaz Saleem.
Pertinently, Farooq Ahmad Dar was used as human shield by Army unit led by Major Gogoi on the day of voting for Srinagar parliamentary segment.