Judiciary is unfair to the poor: NHRC

NEW DELHI: A study authorised by the National Human Rights Commission has criticised the Indian judiciary’s “ugly anti-people garb.” The study, which examined issues such as human rights, and the right to housing and land, said the judiciary has reversed the “span of progressive judgements, strong public-interest litigation, and judicial activism”.

The publication of the report, ‘The Human Right to Adequate Housing and Land’, comes at a time when the judiciary is facing an attack from the political class.

“In recent years, the Supreme Court and high courts have passed a number of anti-poor judgements,” the NHRC-commissioned report said, “thereby revealing a complete shift in priorities and a violation of the principles of natural justice.”

The report cited the response of a Supreme Court bench to the plea that it would be unreasonable to oust slum dwellers during a heat wave. The court had said: “In India we have three weather conditions — heat, rain, and winter. If we accept your argument, there will never be an appropriate time to demolish illegal structures standing on public land.”