NHRC seeks Karunanidhi's response

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, JULY 19. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought the response of Mr. Karunanidhi, and the two Union Ministers, Mr. Murasoli Maran and Mr. T.R. Baalu, to the Tamil Nadu Government's reply that the Supreme Court guidelines were not violated during the June 30 arrest episode.

The Full Commission, presided over by the Chairperson, Mr. Justice J.S. Verma, which met on Wednesday considered the reply sent by the State Government to the Commission's notice issued on July 2 and decided to send copies of the reply to Mr. Karunanidhi and the two Union Ministers for their response.

According to the Commission's sources, with the State Government asserting that there was no deviation of the apex court guidelines laid down in the D.K. Basu case, it was necessary to get the version of the victims. The response of the complainant, a non-Governmental organisation from Tamil Nadu, which had sought the Commission's intervention, has also been sought.

As the State Government has maintained that any action against the police officials would be considered only after the findings of the one-man inquiry commission, the immediate question to be considered was whether there had been any violation of the guidelines issued by the apex court as well as by the NHRC in Mr. Karunanidhi and the two Union Ministers' arrest. And if the guidelines had been violated, to consider award of compensation to the victims. It was for this reason, the response of the victims had been sought by the commission.

In its notice issued on July 2, th the commission had drawn the attention of the State Government to the law laid down by the Supreme Court pertaining to the exercise of power by the police to effect the arrest of a person accused of a crime.

According to the commission, these guidelines had been circulated to all States, including Tamil Nadu, to inform every member of the police force of these constitutional and statutory requirements while effecting any arrest. Maintaining that these requirements might have been contravened while effecting the arrests, the commission wanted the State Government to give its version and accordingly the Tamil Nadu Government sent its reply last week.

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Section  : National
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