The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised the final round of its 30th annual debate competition for Central Armed Police Forces in collaboration with the Sashastra SeemaBal (SSB) in New Delhi. The topic was ‘Human rights can be observed by para military forces without compromising national security concerns.’ 16 participants debated for and against the motion in Hindi and English in the final round after semi-final and zonal rounds. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) lifted the running trophy as the best team in the competition.

Among the individual honours, the first prize for debate in Hindi went to Shri Mayank Verma, Assistant Commandant, CISF and in English to Ms Arundhathi V., Assistant Commandant, CISF. The second prize in Hindi went Shri Deepak Singh Yadav, Recruit GD, Assam Rifles and in English Maj. Aditya Patil, Assam Rifles. The third prize in Hindi went to Shri Ashutosh Singh, Constable, BSF and in English it went to Shri Naresh Chandra Bajetha, Assistant Commandant, NSG. Besides the certificates and a memento, the first, second, and third prize winners were also given cash awards of Rs 12,000/-, Rs 10,000/- and Rs 8,000/- each respectively.

The NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian appreciated the efforts of all the 16 participants for their forthright views on the subject and said that all of them deserved to be the winners. He said that the purpose behind NHRC’s initiative is to give armed forces a platform to reflect on duty through a human rights lens.

Justice Ramasubramanian said that balance is the essence of duty in armed forces to ensure national security and protection of human rights. He said that it may be an over statement of the facts to suggest that human rights can be observed only by compromising national security concerns. He also said that the debate regarding human rights concerns during armed action is not new but centuries old. In this regard, he also cited examples from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Before this, NHRC, India Member, Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani and the Chief of Jury said that security and human rights are not opposing concepts. They are complementary pillars that hold our democracy together. This competition is not merely an academic exercise. It is a reflection of the intellectual strength, moral courage and democratic values that our Central Armed Police Forces carry with pride.

In his address, NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal said that there is no contradiction in the duty of the police forces and protection of human rights. The Constitutional guarantee of equality, liberty and justice can be enjoyed only when there is a public order which the security forces are expected to maintain. He said that with power comes great responsibility and armed forces play an important role in creating an environment where people’s life and rights are protected.

Special DG, SSB, Smt Anupama Nilekar Chandra also lauded efforts of participants and said that they had expressed themselves with great clarity in their thinking during the debate. She noted that the event is organised in both English and Hindi and follows a system developed over the last 30 years, with eight zones participating.

NHRC, India Director General (Investigation), Shri Anand Swaroop; Registrar (Law), Shri Joginder Singh; the two jury members including Former Director General, BPR&D, Dr Meeran Chadha Borwankar and Director, South Campus, Delhi University, Prof Rajini Abbi, other senior NHRC officers and CAPF personnel were present. NHRC SSP, Shri Hari Lal Chouhan delivered the vote of thanks.

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NSK

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