Odia activist moves NHRC over Parliament’s failure to hold business

Bhubaneswar: The
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Union Ministry of
Parliamentary Affairs to act over a petition alleging failure of the Parliament
to deliver justice that ultimately results in violation of basic human rights
of the people of the country.

 The apex rights panel was moved in this regard
by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy in May this
year.

“The failure of the Government
in enacting a law and to regulate the Parliament with discipline results in
chaos and denial of the spirit of democracy. Non-tabling of reports including
many reports pertaining to the under privileged ,marginalised like Safai
Karamcharis, SC and ST pose serious question of human rights,” Radhakanta
alleged.

Adjourning the motions,
sine die of Parliament brings huge loss to the public exchequer and wastage of
precious time. The physical attacks and infighting by the members of the Parliament
and live telecast of the same not only pose questions of discipline and order
but also sends wrong signals to the minds of minor children who witness the
same through television. Negligence of Parliament to deal with the vulnerable
and sensitive issues pose serious threats to human rights, Radhakanta
contended.

He had urged the
commission to make a comprehensive report over the functioning of the Parliament
and direct the Union Parliamentary Affairs Ministry to enact a law and to make
necessary amendments in the provisions related to the functioning of the
Parliament.

In response the
Ministry informed the petitioner that both the Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya
Sabha are governed by their own rules and procedures directly by the Presiding
officers of both the Houses respectively.

Though the Ministry in
a letter to the petitioner dated June 5 informed that it has asked Lok Sabha
and the Rajya Sabha Secretariats to clarify the petitioner about the matter but
the complainant is yet to be informed.