J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu held a strong protest/demonstration at the District Court Complex, Jammu, against three burning issues viz i) Price hike in Petrol, Diesel & other essential commodities which is badly affecting the people of the country (ii) Recent Militants attack at Jhajjar Kotli & (iii) Organized attack by some political parties on the independent functioning of the judiciary for seeking favour by protesting in streets against the case which is pending in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India- rather than making submissions during the course of hearing in such matters in the court.
B.S.Slathia while addressing the gathering stated that hike in the prices of essential commodities including Petrol, Diesel, Vegetables and other eatables is badly affecting the people of the country and the present dispensation has totally failed to control and arrest the tendency of hike in prices which is making the common man as victim of the same.
Slathia while addressing the gathering further stated that it is a matter of great pride for all of us that the security forces have very bravely countered the recent militants attack at Jhajjar Kotli and succeeded in eliminating all of them . He strongly condemned this act of cowardness by the militants which took place at Jhajjar Kotli, and cautioned the authorities to identify the sleeper cells who are active in an around Jammu so that the peaceful atmosphere is maintained and not allowed to be vitiated at the instance of supporters of such like elements. Mr. Slathia further stated that the Association is on record in cautioning the authorities for identifying the sleeper cells in Jammu when the Army Camp Sunjwan was attacked in February, 2018 by the militants from across the Boarder. The activities of these sleeper cells in active connivance of certain elements is a matter of grave concern and requires to be dealt with by the authorities seriously to avoid such attacks. The Association thankfully acknowledged the acts of bravery & courage shown by the members of the security forces at the cost of their lives in fighting these militants.
Slathia further stated that some Kashmir Centric political parties instead of participating in the local Bodies and Panchyat Elections are busy in compaining to boycott the elections not only of Local Bodies but of Assembly & Parliament as well which runs contrary to the basic concept of Democracy. It is worth-while to mention that the decision of the State Government to hold Local Body/ Panchyat Election is a welcome step as it shall strengthen the Democracy at gross root level.
The family members of a lawyer from Doda alleged that their son has been detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police without any ‘charges’.
Advocate Hassan Babur Nehru, who is a social and human rights activist in Chenab Valley, was earlier booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and was released after spending seven months in jail on the orders of High Court.
Last year, the family says, he was also implicated in a false and fabricated case in which he was discharged by the court.
Police detained him near Assar block of Doda and later shifted him to a Police station in Parade Jammu. According to sources, he was presently lodged in Trikuta Nagar Police station.
“He was in a Ramban court to resolve a marital dispute with his wife and was carrying 3 lakh rupees with him. The matter was deferred and he was on his way home when the police detained him,” said Babur’s mother, Farida Begum.
The family demanded immediate release and alleged police of fabricating false cases and putting him in jail on one pretext or the other.
IGP Jammu, S.D Singh Jamwal said: “He is named in various FIRs and legal action will be taken against him.”
Deepika Singh Rajawat-the lawyer of Kathua rape and murder case, has been invited to participate in the 16th annual Mothers and Daughters Festival in Surrey, British Columbia Canada.
The festival which is also known as ‘Mela Mawan Dhiyan Da’ will begin on June 24th. She will also be honored in the event for fighting injustice and working for underprivileged class of the society.
Organizers have provided air ticket expenditure besides her accommodation and meals for three nights in Canada.
The lawyer is expected to share her views with some media organizations and also she will get an opportunity to speak at other public forums.
Invitation letter reads that “You will inspire countless other women to stand up and make a difference in the world.”
Deepika Singh Rajawat is counsel for the family of the eight-year-old girl, raped and murdered in Kathua district.
The advocate in the Kathua rape case fears for her safety but says she will continue the good fight
Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat has not had it easy, ever since she took up the case of an eight-year old girl who was raped and murdered in Kathua in Jammu Kashmir: ostracised by the bar association and called names. But her resolve keeps her going. The young advocate came to Mumbai to receive the Woman of the Year award by the Indian Merchant Chambers Ladies Wing of Commerce and Industry. She enrolled as a lawyer in 2009 with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and served as member of the Juvenile Welfare Board for Jammu district from 2010 to 2013. She tells The Hindu of her isolation and says she fears for her safety.
Did you always want to take up law?
Oh yes. I have always wanted to fight. Fight a fight through the law; fight inside court. And I am doing just that. I love my work.
How did life change after you took up the Kathua case?
So many things happened. I am being told I am ‘anti nationalist’. If supporting a child is being anti nationalist, then I will wear it as a badge. The J&K Bar is treating me very badly and has ostracised me. I am being isolated. I had a problem looking out for a home, now I have one and have a problem looking for a place to work.
Is it because you are a woman?
Yes, and more than that because I am a Hindu supporting a Muslim.
Do you fear for your safety?
Yes, because right now everyone is watching but if they get a chance they will definitely cause me damage. I am not scared because I am protected by my god and I believe that a supernatural power protects everyone.
Lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat has won the most prestigious award of the year at the Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ladies Wing – ‘Woman of the Year’.
The function will be held in Mumbai on June 11.
The Ladies Wing committee members have applauded Rajawat’s incredible achievements saying that she has shown grit, sincerity and dedication which is commendably inspirational.
Despite life threats from rightwing political parties, Rajawat fought against all odds in helping an eight-year-old girl of Kathua to get justice after she was raped and then murdered inside a temple by a gang of eight Hindus in Kathua during the first week of January this year.
Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat, the Counsel representing the Kathua rape victim’s family, has been awarded the ‘Woman of the Year’ by the Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ladies Wing. The ceremony will be held in Mumbai on 11 June.https://t.co/759rE9mZ0epic.twitter.com/pFjV98MgO4
Lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat, who fought for Kathua rape victim wins "Woman Of The Year Award" by the Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ladies Wing.👍 She says, "the real award for her would be when the nation is abuse free."#JusticeForAsifa#Kathua#Asifapic.twitter.com/v6OnWqShhv
— Mujaid Alam Bakerwal (@alam_mujaid) June 8, 2018
Kathua Rape and murder case Lawyer #Deepika#Singh#Rajawat has won the most prestigious award of the year at the Indian Merchants Chamber of Commerce & Industry Ladies Wing
A team of 15 lawyers from various parts of the country who are members of the Indian Association for People’s Lawyers (IAPL) visited Kashmir for a fact-finding campaign and have come out with observations saying that the national media has “distorted facts” and kept a wrong picture of Kashmir before the country and that the lawyers in Kashmir are facing fatal hurdles while carrying out their duties.
The IAPL is the India chapter of the International Association of People’s Lawyers and was formed in the year 2004 “to uphold justice, equality, human rights and to fight against all undemocratic laws and procedures, not only in the courts but also through the fact-finding mission.” The fact-finding effort in Kashmir was one such effort.
The team of 15 lawyers from different regions of India like Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana conducted the fact-finding from May 23 to May 27, meeting with the bar associations of the Kashmir High Court, Baramulla, Handwara, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Budgam, Shopian, Islamabad (Anantnag), Pulwama and Chairperson of SHRC.
The association, in a statement, claims that in the background of the conflict situation, the fact-finding mission found that the lawyers in Kashmir are “working in very difficult circumstances while trying to bring some semblance of the rule of the law when it comes to human rights violations in various part of the state.”
The team was “shocked to find that the state’s lawyers, apart from facing threats, intimidation, illegal detentions and arrests, have been subject to torture and killings, while discharging their professional responsibilities.”
There has been a large coverage of Kashmir by the Indian media, which has been primarily distorted and contra- factual. IAPL therefore, decided to hold the fact finding focusing on the conditions and experiences of lawyers and functioning of the legal system, in the background of the conflict situation. A team of 15 lawyers, belonging from different regions of India, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana has come to Kashmir and conducted a fact finding from May 23 to May 27, 2018. During the course of fact finding, we visited and met Bar Associations of the Kashmir High Court, Baramulla, Handwara, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Budgam, Shopian, Islamabad (Anantnag), Pulwama, and Chairperson of SHRC. The team also interacted with local lawyers, activists, human rights defenders and victims of gross Human Rights violations in various districts. The final report will be prepared and released soon. Some of the preliminary findings of the fact finding are the following:-
(I) Lawyers in Kashmir are working in very difficult circumstances while trying to bring some semblance of the Rule of Law. We were shocked to find that apart from facing threats, intimidation, illegal detentions and arrests, many have been subject to torture and killings, while discharging their professional responsibilities.
(II) The Lawyers are exhausting all local remedies available to them in fighting this uphill battle and face little or no success. This is partly due to the interference by executive, police, administration, and armed forces in independent functioning of the judiciary, and also partly due to deliberate non-compliance of judicial orders.
(III) The extra-ordinary laws in force in J&K give immunity to perpetrators leading to a culture of Impunity, resulting in the collapse of the justice delivery system to victims of Human Rights violations.
Indian Association of Peoples Lawyer (IAPL), part of International Association of Peoples Lawyer was formed in year 2004 to uphold Justice, Equality, Human Rights and to fight against all undemocratic laws and procedures, not only in the courts but also through Fact-finding missions.
APDP (ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS OF DISAPPEARED PERSONS) AND IAPL ON THE EVE OF INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF THE DISAPPEARED-2018, REMEMBERS DISAPPEARED PERSONS OF J&K
Press Release
27th May 2018
The last week of May every year is recognized internationally as the International Week of the Disappeared. This week provides an opportunity to remember the disappeared, and acknowledge the struggle of their families. It is also an occasion to recommit to the fundamental right not to be subjected to enforced disappearances, the right to know the truth and the right to justice and reparation. It is an occasion to continue to demand that governments sign, ratify and implement the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and criminalize the practice of enforced disappearances.
Today on eve of the International Week of the Disappeared Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons in association with IAPL – Indian Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) underlines that Indian State continues to remain in denial of the ongoing international movement against enforced disappearances. Following the commission of widespread and systematic enforced disappearances of more than 8000 persons in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has chosen to protect itself and its own forces by disregarding the very existence of the crime itself. Concerning enforced disappearances, the government has not ensured an alternative independent investigative mechanism and has instead preferred to subject the victims to a system that continues to promote impunity. Moreover, despite repeated recommendations from the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) for a comprehensive forensic investigation into 7000+ unknown, unmarked and mass graves, found across various districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the government seems to be unwilling to initiate any such effective inquiry.
Despite a consistent campaign by the parents and relatives of disappeared persons, no action has been taken. The government has failed to investigate enforced disappearances, bring the perpetrators to justice and provide reparations to the families. The government so far has been disinclined to set up a Commission of Inquiry which has been a recurrent demand of APDP. Due to the continued denial, the families of disappeared particularly half widows and their children continues to suffer endlessly.
Since the Indian government and governments of J&K have ignored the plight of two hundred thousand relatives of the disappeared people, therefore it is the responsibility of Indian civil society as well as international community to intervene and hold the government of India, a claimant for permanent seat in the UN Security Council, accountable for more than 8000 enforced disappearances and existence of 7000 unknown, unmarked and mass graves in J&K.
APDP together with IAPL would like to call upon the government of India to act as per principles of law and justice, enquire into all the cases of enforced disappearances, ensure speedy justice to victims and prosecute the perpetrators of enforced disappearances. The association on the eve of the International week of disappeared once again pledges to continue its struggle and commemoration of the disappeared loved ones until the truth is revealed and justice delivered.
