21 years on, not a single prosecution under AFSPA

In the battle between the state and the Centre, human rights have become the casualty. Twenty-one years on, the Jammu and Kashmir government has conceded that the Centre has not intimated it of any sanction granted for prosecution of any of security forces personnel involved in human rights violations under the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

“I am directed to convey that no sanction for prosecution has been intimated by the ministry of home affairs and ministry of defence to the state government 1990-2011 under the (Jammu and Kashmir) Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” wrote additional secretary to J&K Home Department, in response to RTI filed by Khurram Parvez, programme coordinator of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

The reply is in complete contrast to the J&K home department’s earlier response to an RTI query that sanction for prosecution has been recommended in eight cases.

Khurram said according to the new RTI reply, the Centre has not given prosecution sanctions under AFSPA in any of the human rights cases since 1990.