Notice issued by the highest court to set up Human Rights Courts

A petition was filled by a law student named Bhavika Phore and was to be heard by a bench of Chief Justice Of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose. The petitioner in his petition asked in his prayer to direct the respondent States to set up Human Rights Courts for each district across the country (total 725 districts in 29 states and 7 union territories) and also to appoint SPP so that speedy trials can be conducted for offences relating to Human Rights violation within a specified limit.

The petitioner stated that the Center and the States are obligated to foster Human Rights under the Protection Of Human Rights Act 1993, it was shown that one of the main objectives of the act was to set up these special courts for the protection of Human Rights of the individuals. The same objective and obligation on the respondent states is given in Section 30 and 31 of the above mentioned act. However even after such a long period of time since the law was enacted the respondent States have failed in their duty to foster Human Rights in the country.

The court agreed with the petitioner when he cited various studies and reports and to prove that protection of Human Rights in India is in a very bad state. Also in May 2019 a similar petition was filled in Delhi High Court seeking a direction to Delhi Government to establish a States Human Rights Commission for Delhi. Thus the Supreme Court issued notice to Central Government and States for the establishment of Human Rights Courts in every district in the country.