Human Rights Commission to consider looking into repeal of AFSPA

The National Human Rights Commission will consider looking into the issue of repealing the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and the time it needs to continue.

This was announced by NHRC Chairperson Justice KG Balakrishnan while addressing the National Consultation for Universal Periodic Review 2012 in New Delhi.

"The Commission would consider to look into this (repealing of AFSPA) and also how much time more this needs to continue," he said.

He said welfare measures taken up by government agencies should be monitored as to how these are reaching to the people.

"A growth rate of 8-9 per cent will be meaningful in projecting shining India in real sense only when the benefits of wealth generated out of it reach to the people at grass root level," he said.

He also stressed upon the need to classify the offences which could be considered as violation of human rights so that it is easy for the people to file complaints in the human rights courts which should be setup by all the states as per the Protection of Human Rights Act. He said that the states need to setup and strengthen the State Human Rights Commission.