NHRC trains Tamil Nadu prison fficers on human rights and justice

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India organized a specialized training session in New Delhi for 30 police officers from the Academy for Prison and Correctional Administration (APCA), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, on February 13. The program aimed to enhance their understanding of human rights, legal frameworks, and the role of correctional officers in upholding justice and dignity within prison administration.

Upholding human rights in prison administration

Addressing the trainees, NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal emphasized that their duties should not be seen merely as jobs but as a “chosen dharma” to uphold the law while ensuring basic human rights for all in their custody. He urged the officers to serve as role models in their profession, fostering a humane and rehabilitative prison environment.

Interactive sessions on legal and digital frameworks

The training featured interactive sessions led by NHRC senior officials:

Legal frameworks: Presenting Officer Vijay Lakshmi Vihan provided an overview of the Protection of Human Rights (PHR) Act, 1993, and explained the Commission’s Law Division.

Investigation and prison administration: Deputy Superintendent of Police Dushyant Singh briefed officers on investigating human rights concerns within prisons.

Digital tools for transparency: Senior System Analyst Sanjeev Sharma conducted a session on the NHRC’s online complaints management system, covering death intimation reporting, action-taken submissions, and digital tools for case management.

NHRC’s continued commitment to human rights

The training concluded with a vote of thanks by NHRC Director Lt. Col. Virender Singh. NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding human rights across institutions, ensuring that correctional officers are well-equipped to uphold justice, dignity, and transparency in prison administration.