Supreme Court Orders Quarterly Meetings Of Panel Monitoring Racial Discrimination Against Northeast Community

The bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K. Vinod Chandran passed the order on February 17 while hearing a 2015 writ petition seeking the Union Government’s intervention to ensure the safety and security of persons from the Northeast residing in different parts of the country.

The petition had highlighted instances of racial attacks, insults and discrimination, and sought guidelines for their protection.

The court observed that the Committee must take note of any newspaper report relating to issues of racial discrimination. It further directed that if any member brings such an issue to the notice of the Chairperson, a meeting should be immediately convened to address the matter and take corrective measures, if required.

The Bench has specifically directed the Committee to meet on March 15 and place a status report before the Court detailing the issues raised, discussed and addressed at the meeting.

The Monitoring Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor and address grievances concerning racial discrimination faced by persons from the Northeast. It is headed by Niraj Kumar Bansod, Joint Secretary, MHA, and comprises eleven other members.

The Committee was tasked with reviewing the implementation of the recommendations made by the M.P. Bezbaruah Committee, which was constituted pursuant to proceedings in Karma Dorjee & Ors v. Union of India. The Bezbaruah Committee, chaired by retired IAS officer M.P. Bezbaruah, a member of the North Eastern Council, had examined concerns of persons from Northeast States living in various parts of the country, particularly metropolitan cities. It had itself recommended the creation of a Monitoring Committee to ensure follow-up action.

As per its mandate, the Monitoring Committee is required to monitor, oversee and review the implementation of the Bezbaruah Committee Report dated July 11, 2014. It must also track initiatives taken by the Government to curb and address incidents of racial discrimination, racial violence and racial atrocities.

Further, the Committee is empowered to monitor action taken in specific incidents, suggest measures and ensure strict enforcement. It may receive complaints from individuals or groups claiming to be victims of racial abuse or violence and forward them to the National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commissions or the concerned police authorities for enquiry and appropriate action.

It also has the authority to call for reports from State Governments and Union Territories regarding incidents of racial discrimination and to issue necessary directions in that regard. The Union Government may additionally decide whether other recommendations of the Bezbaruah Committee should be accepted and implemented.

Recently, the court had expressed concern over racial discrimination faced by people from the Northeast across the country. The issue has resurfaced recently, with another Bench led by the Chief Justice of India requesting the Attorney General to examine a separate plea relating to racial violence against members of the Northeast community, filed in the aftermath of the Anjel Chakma murder.