Other Side Of The Story: SC Issues Notice On Petition Seeking Human Rights Protection Of Soldiers In J&K

The Supreme Court on Monday (25 February) issued notice to Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government on a petition seeking protection for Army personnel deployed in the state.

The petition, filed by daughters of two army officers, seeks formulation of a policy to protect human rights of security personnel, reports Business Standard.

A Supeme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi agreed to hear the petition and issued notices to the Union of India, Ministry of Defence, Jammu and Kashmir governmnet and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), reports Live Law.

In their petition, nineteen-year old Preeti Kedar Gokhale and 20-year-old Kajal Mishra have sought direction to the Centre for formulation of a comprehensive policy to safeguard the rights of security forces personnel against the human rights violation by unruly mob or individuals attacking them during the discharge of their military duty.

The petition added that the state government, instead of taking action against stone-pelters, recently decided to withdraw 9,760 cases registered against them.

“More often than not, FIRs are filed against soldiers if they take any action in retaliation or in self-defence against the perpetrators of stone-pelting. However, no similar action is taken against the perpetrators of violence against army personnel,” the petition said, as reported by Times of India.