Pageno.1149.HumanRightsandDemocracy:

India’sExperienceAynulHaque*

AbstractDuringthe last sixdecades,humanrightshavebecomea liveandvibrant issue inthe free world. Human rights as the recognition of inherent and basic individualworth anddignity are as old as human civilization. An individual attains by birthsomerightsashumanbeing.Thusthe ideaofhumanrights iscivilizationas itisapolitical idea with moral base. The concern for and of human rights has beeninstitutionalized after General Assembly of UN adopted and proclaimed theUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsinthemidtwentiethcentury.Theexpression“humanrights”suggestsrightsofallhumanbeings.Themoralfoundationofhumanrightstouniversalityhasnotbeenquestionedyetatleastinprinciple,thoughthereare some instances of rejection to this aspect of universality, either manifest ordisguised,arefairlylargeinallpartsoftheworld.Theideaofdemocracyhasledtogreatexpectationstothepeople.Ithasbecomeakeypointofpoliticallegitimacy.Infact it isproducingthegreatestdisillusionmentandfrustrationrecently.Fromthelate 19th Century democracy and capitalism appear to have moved alongindependent yet parallel paths. During the 20th Century they gained in strength,interactingmutuallyandestablishingan interface.Theresultofwhichtheconceptofwelfarestateemerges,definestheroleofthestateinaninterventionistmanner.On representative democracy Benjamin Barber says, ‘Representations destroysparticipation and citizenship even as it serves accountability and private rights.’IndianConstitution,themostright-basedConstitutionoftheworld,providesethicalfoundation of human rights in its Preamble, while the legal expression of thesefoundinPart-IIIandpart-IVoftheConstitution.Key words: Human Rights, Democracy, Constitution, violence, crime, corruptionandIndia.

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Introduction:It is necessary forhumanbeings to evaluate themeaning and definition oftheconceptofhumanright.HumanRightsareuniversal,andtheyapplyequallytoallhumanbeingswhatevertheirinbornoracquireddifferencesmaybe.Ashumanbeings are rational, they possess certain rights which are commonly known ashumanrights.Humanrightsbelongtothe individuals fromvery inceptionof theirbirth, these rightsbecomeoperative.Humanrightsarebirth rights inherent toallindividuals irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, sex and nationality. Humanrights are absolutely essential as these rights are concerned with freedom anddignity of people and are related to physical moral, social, and spiritual welfare.These rightsarealsoessential formoral andmaterialdevelopment.Humanrightsarealsoreferredasfundamentalrights,basicrightsandbirthrightsasofimmensesignificancetohumanbeings.Theconceptofjusticeandconceptofhumanrightsareinseparable.Justiceiscloselyrelatedtohumanrights.Humanrightsnotonlyupholdhumandignityandworthbutalsoaffirmanhonoredlifetoeachindividual.Tohumanbeingsthereisalife to live but live without dignity, life becomes meaningless. But unfortunatelysomestructuresprevailinginthesocietydonotpermitpeopletolivewithdignityortoaffirmrights.Thedominantforcesinthesocietytrytoexplainhumanrightsfromtheirownperspective,whichisselfishandinjustice.So,fortheproperutilizationofhumanrights, thetransformationofthestructure isessential.Thiswill leadtotheproperdisseminationofjustice,asthedenialofjusticeisdenialofhumanrights.Objectives:Thepresentstudywascarriedoutwiththefollowingaimsandobjectives:1. TomakeacomparativestudyofdemocraticvaluesandhumanrightsinIndia.2. ToexaminedemocraticrightsofthepeopleofIndia.3. Toanalyzefutureofdemocracyinglobal perspective.

Pageno.1164. Toobservethecloserelationshipbetweenglobalizeddemocracyandhumanrights.5. Toobservedemocracyasoneofthesalientofhumanrights.6. ToexamineelectoralprocessanddemocraticsetupinIndia.7. ToobservecriminalizationofpoliticsandlackofgoodgovernanceinIndia.8. TofindoutScamsandCorruptionsinIndiandemocracy.9. TooverseepresentstatusofwomenandchildreninIndia.10. ToassesstheoutbreakofcommunalandethnicviolenceinIndia.11. ToexaminetheeffectivenessofRTI– greatachievementofIndiandemocracy.12. ToanalyzetheSectarianviolenceindifferentstatesinIndia.Theconstitutionof Indiacontemplatestheparliamentary formofgovernmentandensures theestablishmentof a sovereign, socialist, secular,democratic republic inthe country. The constitution also guarantees to the citizens of India somefundamentalrights.IndianConstitutionisoneofthemostright-basedconstitutionsof the world. It provides the ethical foundation of human rights in its Preamble,whilethelegalexpressionofthesefoundinPart-IIIandPart-IVoftheConstitutionwhere the fundamental rights and Directive Principles of State Policy describedrespectively.ThePreambleof theIndianConstitutionaimstosecuretoallcitizensjustice-social, economic and political; liberty of thoughts, expression, belief, faithandworship;equalityofstatusandopportunityandtopromoteamongallfraternityassuring the dignity of the individual. The Constitution of India also guaranteesfundamental rightstoallcitizenswithoutanydiscriminationonanygroundinPart-III. It deals mostly civil and political rights. There are also a set of DirectivePrinciplesofStatePolicywhichfunctionsasguidingprincipleforthegovernmenttorunadministration.The parliamentary form of government under democracy is representativedemocracy inwhichpeopleof the countryareentitled toexercise their sovereignauthoritythroughthe legislature, thememberofwhichareelectedonthebasisofadultfranchise.

Pageno.117There is a close relation between globalized democracy and human rights.Democraticparticipationisinfactoneofthehumanrights,whereinthelessexplicitformthatittakesinArticle21ofUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsorindetailsinArticle25oftheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,althoughitisregrettable to say that neither the articlesuse the term ‘democracy’ itself.At thelevelofhumanrights,democracyiscompatiblewiththeserightswheredemocracyisoneofthesalientofhumanrights.It is known to all that democracy is based on free debate and opendiscussion. Ifdemocracymeansgovernmentofthepeople,bythepeopleandforthepeoplethenit is obvious that every citizen must be entitled to participate in the democraticprocess.Withoutmassparticipationthedemocracyloosesitstrueessence.Theendsofgovernment,accordingtomodernview,aretoensuresecurity,welfareandhappinessof thepeople.Therecanbenodemocraticregimewherepeopledonotenjoythebasiccivilrightsandliberties,thoughsomeinstancesaretherewheredemocracies turn into authoritarianism.DemocraticprocessandelectoralsystemFreeandfairelection,freedomofthought,expressionandpressandindependenceof the judiciary-these are the pillars of democracy. The process of election indemocratic structures should be free and fair, otherwise democracywill loose itsmeaningandsignificance.Iftheelectionprocessisbeingpollutedbyanymeans,thiswill affect the essence of democracy. So, it is the duty of authority concerned toconductandperformfreeandfairelections.Democracy is a system of governance by the people’s representatives, electeddirectlyorindirectly.So,forgoodgovernanceorforthe bettermentofdemocracyitisnecessarythatthebestmenhavinghighmoralandethicalvaluesfromthesocietyshouldbechosenaspeople’srepresentatives.Therearesomanyelectedmembersof the parliament, some of whom holding prestigious post like minister-ship, inIndia,engagedwithsocialcrime.AccordingtolatestNewsPaperReport(TheTimesof India andTheHindu)14ministers (30%) of present Council ofMinisters have

Pageno.118criminal background. So, those who get elected to the parliament or to the statelegislaturemustbeperfectlywellequippedtodothejobtheyareexpectedwhenitisrequired.OtherwiseIndiandemocracywillbeledtoawrongdirection.RighttoInformationInademocraticcountrylikeIndia,everycitizenmusthaveawareness inrelationtoright to information. Modern welfare states exercise vast powers that may bemisused for personal gains andharmful to the society. Right to information, afterRighttoInformationAct,2005openstogetinformationabouttheauthority,aboutgovernment offices, people who are the ultimate decision makers must have allinformation regarding the government and governance for making a properdecisionforthebettermentofthepeople.Administrative Reforms Commission (1966-70) submitted its first reportrecommending two-tiered machinery comprising the Lok Pal and Lokayukta, theformerdealwithcomplaintsagainstMinistersandSecretariestogovernmentatthecentreaswellasinthestate.TheLokyukta,oneforthecentreandoneforthestate,shouldattendtocomplaintsagainsttherestofthebureaucracy.TheLokPalbillhasa long history in India. Itwas firstmooted in theparliament in 1968.During theperiodfrom1968to2013,thebillwasplacedintheparliamentforseveraltimes.Itwasintroducedin1971,1977,1985,1989,1996,1998,2001andin2011.Fiftytwoyearsafter its first introduction theLokPal billwaspassedby thebothhousesofparliamentattheendoftheyear2013.ThebillwaspassedbothinRajyaSabha andLok Sabha on 17 December, 2013 and 18th December, 2013 respectively. Aftergetting assent from the President of India on1st January, 2014THELOKPALANDLOKAYUKTAS ACT, 2013 came into force from 16th January, 2014.It is the firstrecognitioninthefamouscaseofStateofUttarPradeshvRajNarain,theSupremeCourtof India recognize the citizen’s right toknowandhelp that ina responsiblegovernmentwherealltheagentsofthepublicmustberesponsiblefortheirconduct,of course, there canbe fewbut secrets. In another case S.P. Gupta v. President ofIndia,justiceBhagwati,recognizestherighttoknowtobecontainedintherighttofreedomofspeechandexpression.Thusrighttoknowabasicrightwhichcitizensof

Pageno.119afreecountrydesireinabroaderperspectiveoftherighttoliveinthisageonourlandunderArticle21oftheConstitution.ThePreambleandArticle38oftheConstitutionofIndiaenvisagessocialjusticeasthe arch to ensure life to bemeaningfulwith human dignity. Indian Constitutioncommands justice, liberty, equalityand fraternitywhichareof extremevalue andimportance for the success of a democracy. Social justice is a dynamic device tomitigatethesufferingsofthepoor,weak,dalits,Muslims,tribalsandotherdeprivedsectionsofthesocietyandtoelevatethemtothelevelofequalitytolivealifewithdignity.Theconceptofsocialjusticeisanindispensablepartofthecomplexsocialchange to alleviate the deprived sections to make lifemeaningful for the greatergoodofthesociety.Stateshouldensureminimumfacilitiestoenablethemtoreachat leastminimumstandardof life,health, food,drinkingwateretc.asArticle11ofthe International Covenant onEconomic, Social andCultural Rights enshrines therighttoanadequatestandardofliving,includingadequatefoodandclothingandthe‘continuous improvementof livingconditions.’Sowithoutensuringtheserights indemocracy like Indialifeofhumanbeingbecomesmeaningless.Hence inacaseofAirIndiaStatutoryCorp.V.UnitedLabourUniontheSupremeCourtofIndiadecidedasrighttojusticeandrighttohealthweretobefundamentalrights.CorruptioninIndianDemocracyCorruption is the serious threat to the world’s most populous democracy.Corruptionandmaladministrationhavebecomeanintegralpartofour‘democracy’.Indiaisranked94among177countries/territoriesaroundtheworldwithascoreof36 in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), 2013 of the TransparencyInternational.Theindexmeasurestheperceivedlevelsofpublicsectorcorruptionincountriesworldwide,scoringthemfrom0(highlycorrupt)to100(veryclean).HumanRightsandwomeninIndiaSofarasdomesticviolenceisconcerned,itisaverycommonandseriousprobleminIndiansociety.Thoughthetermviolenceagainstwomenisnotwelldefinedunder

Pageno.120theIndianlaws,theEliminationofViolence AgainstWomen definesviolenceagainstwomenas:“Any act of gender based violence that results in , or is likely to result in, physical,sexual, or psychological harmor suffering towomen, including threats of such acts,coercionorarbitrarydeprivationof libertywhetheroccurringinpublicorinprivatelife.”AccordingtotheNCRBineverysixhours,ayoungmarriedwomanis burned,beatentodeath,ordriventocommitsuicide.Acrimeagainstawomaniscommittedeverythree minutes, one rape in every 29 minutes, one dowry death case in every 77minutesandatlast,onecaseofcrueltybyhusbandandhisrelativesisfiledinevery9minutes.Atotalof2,44,270incidentsofcrimeagainstwomen(bothunderIPCandSLL)werereportedinthecountryduringtheyear2012ascomparedto2,28,650inthe year 2011 recording an increase of 6.4% during the year2012. These crimeshave continuously increased during 2008 -2012 with 1,95,856 cases in the year2008,2,03,804cases in2009,2,13,585cases in2010,2,28,650cases in2011and2,44,270cases intheyear2012.Atotalof24,923rapecaseswerereported inthecountryduringthe year2012.Themajorityofrapecasesareneverreportedtotheauthorities.SingularcrimeofrapeisthefastestgrowingandmostalarmingcrimeinIndia.Thiscrimeisincreasedby902%over1971to2012.Othercrimeslike – gangrapes, acid attacks, stalking etc. were recognized recently by the Criminal LawAmendmentAct2013.Ascrimelike‘honourkilling’ , is stillnotrecognizedbylaw,noauthenticdataisavailableonthatcrime.Genderviolenceisofcoursenotlimitedtorape.Theofficialstatisticsfor2012NCRBreportthatthereoccurred8,233dowrydeaths (section302/304 IPC);106,527cases of crueltybyhusbandsand relatives(section 498-A IPC; 45,351) assaults on women with the intent to outrage theirmodesty (section 354 IPC); and 9,173 cases of insult to the modesty of women(section509 IPC).Except for thedowrydeaths,everyother crimeagainstwomenwitnessedariseofaround6percentin2012incomparisonto2008.The2012NCRBreport also mentions that there were 2.84 cases occurring every hour in India(amounting to nearly one case every 20 minutes) in which 3.55 persons were

Pageno.121arrestedin2012.Anincreaseof1.1%inhumantraffickingincidencewasobserved(3,554casesin2012ascomparedto3,517in2011).HumanRightsandChildreninIndiaEducation is regarded as one of the important human rights. Childrenmust haveproper facilities for education in a democracy like India. It is not providedcompulsorily free and universal primary education by the government and onlyapproximately 59% of children between the age group 5-14 to attend school. In2002 theConstitutionwas amendedgiving all children between ages 6 to 14 therighttofreeandcompulsoryeducationtobeprovidedbythestate.Childabuse isregardedasoneofthemostviolationofhumanrights.Though it isprohibited by law it is still continuing in Indian society. Female infanticide is aserious problem in Indian society. The ratio of female child to male has beendeclining day by day due to sex determination during pregnancy and femaleinfanticide.Accordingto2001Censustherewere933womenforevery1000men.Theratiooffemalechildtomalewasmuchhigherahundredyearsbackthat is in1901. It was 972 female per 1000male in 1901. Abuse of children is a seriousproblem both in public and private level educational Institutions. An increase of15.3%was reported in incidence of crime against children in 2012 over 2011. Atotal of 38,172 incidents of crime against children were reported in the countryduringtheyear2012ascomparedto33,098intheyear2011.Teachersoftenbeatchildren. Childmarriage is prohibited after ChildMarriageRestraint (Amendment)Act itisthetraditionalpracticeinIndiansociety,especiallyinNorthernIndiawhichisstillgoingon.Thoughtheactraisedtheagerequirementformarriageforgirlfrom15to18years,butthegovernmentdoesnotenforcetheactproperly.CasteorCurse?CastesystemisacurseinIndiansocietywhichmakesadivisionofsocietyleadingthegrossviolationofhumanrights.IthasalonghistorytiedtoHinduisminIndia.Itdivides society intodifferent structural religious, cultural,andsocial roles toeach

Pageno.122casteandsub-caste.Toeliminatethediscriminationamongdifferentcastesandsub-castes many efforts have been taken, but the practice has remained the same.Though to remove untouchability is one of the fundamental rights which ismentioned in Article 17 of the Constitution, the practice of untouchability is stillgoingon.Dalits are considered bymanyHindus as separate section or below thecaste system and that is why they were relegated to separate villages. It is thecustomthatdalitsmayberequiredtoperformworksasandwhenuppercastecallswithout remuneration. They are among the poorest citizens facing significantdiscrimination. And often using the same wells and from attending the sametemplesareprohibitedtothem.CommunalandEthnicViolenceinIndiaInJuly,2012violencetookplaceintheIndianstateofAssamwhichbrokeoutwithriotsbetweenBodosandMuslims.Duringtheperiod(July-August,2012)morethan75peoplewerekilledinclashesbetweenBodosandMuslimcommunitiesinAssam.Atotalof400,000peopleweretemporarilytakingshelterin270reliefcamps,afterbeing displaced from almost 400 villages. Eleven people have been reportedmissing. Involvement of armed groups exacerbated tensions and violence. Theauthoritieswerecriticizedfortheirinadequateresponse.Tenyearsafterthe2002Gujarat Pogrom in which more than 2,000 Muslims were killed, the majority ofvictimsandtheirfamilieshadnotsecuredjustice.MembersofDalitcommunitiescontinuedtofacediscriminationandattacks.Speciallawstoprosecutesuspectedperpetratorswererarelyused.In November,2012268Dalit houses in Natham Colony, Tamil Nadu, were looted and damaged by casteHindusenragedbythesuicideofamanwhosedaughterhadmarriedaDalit.MinoritiesandPoliceinIndiaIndian Constitution provides the protection of individual rights. The courts havepowertodeclare invalidany lawspassedbytheParliamentorStateAssemblies ifthey contravene IndianConstitution.Articles 25 to30of theConstitutionof Indiaextendtheseguaranteestoallkindsofminorities–religious, culturalandlinguistic.In spiteof theprovisionsgivenby theConstitution, rightsof theminorities standunprotected. There is a general feeling- police, protector of the people, playsdeliberatelypartisan role.TheGujaratPogromhasexposed the communalbiasof

Pageno.123thepoliceforce.Nottheentirepoliceforce,butamajorpartofthepolicecontingentarousedbycommunalpassions.Theyengagedthemselvesincommunalviolence.Ithas come as a shock to the Indianmasses.Wehave foundnumerous instances inSrikrishnaCommissionReportwherepolice callousnessandbias left theminoritycommunity without any means of self-defense. Justice B.N.Srikrishna made thefollowingobservationsinhisReportonBombayRiots1992-93,‘TheCommissionisof the view that there is evidence of police bias against Muslims which hasmanifested itself in otherways like the harsh treatment given to them, failure toregister even cognizable offences.’ There are evidences from various reports thattheroleofpoliceduringcommunalriotshasbeen far fromdesirable. ItraisestheimportantquestionofperformanceofpoliceasaninstitutionofstatelikeIndia.Violencebetweensecurityforces,militiaandMaoistsClashes between armed Maoists and security forces continued in eastern andcentral India. Both sides routinely targeted civilians. They are killing people andspreading violence continuously. During the ‘OperationGreen Hunt’ in Lalgarh ofWestBengalthestatehadmadestatementsthat‘OperationGreenHunt’wasagainstMaoists/Naxalites. But for the tribals ‘Green Hunt’ was nothing else but a unitedfrontofStateandMiningCorporationstograbtheirlandandrichnaturalresourcesbysilencingthevoicesof thosewhofought for theirhomeland.Tribals thinksinceMaoistsandNaxalsarewellarmed,theycandefendthemselves.Itistheywhoareunabletoprotectthemselves.ConclusionAbraham Lincoln’s dream of ideal democracy is shattered, because todaydemocracyappearstobe‘ofthepeople’,‘bythepeople’butnotproperly/truly‘forthepeople’.Thegovernmentapparatusandthegovernmentitselffacedacredibilitycrisis. Political parties as the legitimizing vehicle of parliamentary democracysufferedalackofcredibilityduetocriminalizationofpoliticsandmottoofgrabbingthe power. After considering leading theories of the relation of justice anddemocracy,priorityof justiceandhumanrightsshouldbegiven, inprinciple,overthe authority of democratic decisions. Democracy is based on the requirement of

Pageno.124justiceasequalfreedom,itselfoneofthehumanrights,itfollows,thatinterventionson behalf of justice should be carefully delimited ,and specifically to caseswherefundamental rights have been violated. The Indian Constitution abolished“untouchability” in Article 17.Despite this “untouchability” continues to bepracticisedinIndiainvariousforms.Wehaveseenthereisapersistentincreaseinall forms of crime against women and children and other forms of violation ofhumanrights in India.Communalviolenceandoppression shouldbehandled inahuman rights perspective. Many people from the minority community areincriminatedonlyonthebasisofsuspicionandsubsequentlyacquittedafteralongperiodoftimeandtherebytheirlivesarebeingmassacred.FakeencountersbytheSecurityPersonnelviolateArticle21oftheConstitutionofIndia.Mostofthevictimsare fromtheminoritycommunities. Thoughseveralstepshavebeentakenbythegovernmenttosharpentheedgeofatoollikehumanrights,themainproblemliesintheproperimplementationofthesame.Implicationofactsregardingtheprotectionofhumanrightsisofgreaterimportancebutunfortunatelyitissignificantlylackingin India. It isneededtoconcentratelesson legalnormsandtoconnectmorewithsocialactivismofHumanRightsOrganizationsinIndia.TheemphasisonindividualinWestern Societies is not apropos in Indiawhereman’s “social self” is farmorecrucialthanintheWest.Rightsbecomerealonlywhenpeoplebegintorealizetheirfull potential as human beings and affirm their rights both in public and privatespheres.HumanRightsofallshouldbeprotectedinordertoextendandstrengthenIndian democracy. Otherwise secular fabric and democratic values will face aseriousthreatinfutureIndia.REFERENCES

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