The Human Rights Forum (HRF) welcomes the granting of bail by the Supreme Court to People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) national vice-president Dr Binayak Sen on Friday. This is a minor corrective by the highest court in the land to the ongoing travesty of justice in Chattisgarh. That State is witnessing a viciously motivated campaign to silence democratic dissent. It is a campaign that is aimed at intimidation and vilification of those who advocate human rights and expose rights abuses.
It may be recalled that in a shocking, malicious and deeply flawed judgement last December, Dr Sen was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Raipur Sessions Court for sedition. It is pertinent to remember the words of the Supreme Court while granting him bail on Friday: “Mere possession of Naxalite literature cannot be proof of sedition”.
We urge the government to drop all charges against Binayak Sen. HRF also demands that the Chhattisgarh Special Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 under which Dr Sen was convicted be taken off the statute books as they are basically undemocratic legislation.
VS Krishna
HRF State general secretary
15.03.2011
Visakhapatnam