As per provisions of Section 17 of the Human Rights Act1993
“It does not contemplate an adverserial proceedings.It empowers the Commission to call for information or report from the Central Government,State Government or any other authority.If on the material placed before it , the Commission is satisfied that no further inquiry is required, it may not proceed with the complain.”
This is the safegaurd taken by the NHRC when it submitted its L18 Batla House Encounter report when it had received complains of Human rights violation by the families of two youths killed in the encounter.
Official words, heavy words, the usual jargon which the common public is unable to understand who just wants a clear cut report based on the evidence,afterall we were all visually present on the site, even we have seen the encounter and we ask for one and only one thing just punish the guilty.We are in no position to put blame on anyone nor we are in a position to absolve anyone.
We do not have access to the detailed reports the postmortem report which clearly mentions that the two youths were having bullet wounds which when shown to the forensic experts clearly said that these wounds are result of being shot when the victim was sitting or trying to get up.
Even the statements given by the two top police officials are contradictory,one says the main team remained on ground while the advance team with Inspector MC Sharma went up and knocked at the main door,while the other says that Inspector Sharma sent a sub inspector first.
The NHRC did not talk to any of the resident of L18 who was present in the vicinity that fateful day,nor it even once visited L18 the place of encounter and has not questioned anyone.These are only some of the contradictions or points on which clarification was must.
But seemingly it just called for reports from various authorities and compiled their own report sitting in the office.
How do a common man react to such reports. To be credible any report is supposed to cover all aspects and maintain transparency at every stage.
We have trust in the official machinery but only if it takes into account the demands of a common man. And that common man demands that when any such report is submitted please do not ignore the public.We are not imbecile ignoramus and we cannot be fooled each and every time.Even we are capable of logical thinking.
Can we expect that the next report on any issue will take this into account?
