News Excerpt:
Justice Sanjay Kaul, in his opinion, recommended setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look into alleged violations of human rights by both state and non-state actors in J&K.
About Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC):
- It is also known as a “Truth and Justice Commission”.
- It is an official mechanism not just to acknowledge, but also to reveal, wrongdoings by a government (or non-state actors or combatants).
- Resultantly, conflicts of the past can be addressed and resolved.
- Characteristics:
- Focused on the past, rather than ongoing events.
- Investigates a pattern of events that took place over a period of time.
- Engages directly and broadly with the affected population.
- Gather information on their experiences.
- Temporary body, to conclude with a final report.
- Officially authorized or empowered by the State under review.
Why does India need a Truth Commission?
- Women’s groups in the Northeast were clear that a Commission was necessary to “begin processes of truth telling, healing and reconciliation” and therefore, they called for establishing a Northeast India Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- Human rights abuses during the Emergency, Sikh riots of 1984, Partition, and 2002 Gujarat riots.
- Kashmir and its long and terrible history.
- The atrocities on Dalits, such as the Khairlanji killings or the Tsundur massacre.
- Imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.
- The systematic oppression and marginalisation of the Minorities.
