Not providing civic amenities amounts to human rights violation, says judge

Senior Civil Judge emphasizes the importance of human rights, including access to basic amenities, for all citizens.

Terming human rights as a prerequisite for a citizen to lead a decent life, Senior Civil Judge and Member-Secretary of the Kalaburagi District Legal Services Authority Srinivas Navale said that civic amenities such as potable drinking water, food, roads and drains and clean premises are part of human rights and the State is duty-bound to provide them to all of its citizens.

“Our Constitution guarantees the right to live with dignity to every citizen. Drinking water, food, roads, drains and other civic amenities are part of human rights. Depriving any citizen of these facilities amounts to violation of human rights. The bureaucratic apparatus is duty-bound to provide these amenities,” he said at an awareness programme organised as part of World Human Rights Day at the Conference Hall in the district administrative complex in Kalaburagi on Tuesday.

“The death of 10 infants at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and the death of seven newborns at a childcare hospital in Delhi are before us. Five people died after consuming contaminated water in Raichur last year. Similar cases have been reported in Mysuru and Tumakuru. A child died after it fell into a hot sambar vessel at a midday meal kitchen in Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburagi district. In all these incidents, the negligence, dereliction of duty and lethargy of public servants concerned are conspicuous. Public servants who have joined public service under the Constitution are duty-bound to discharge their duties to ensure the protection of human rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, who presided over the event, released leaflets meant to spread awareness among the people about human rights.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Rayappa Hunasagi administered an oath to the participants.

At the beginning of the programme, homage was paid to the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna who passed away in Bengaluru in the morning.

Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa, Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivasulu, Deputy Commissioner of the City Corporation Avinash Sindhe, Assistant Commissioner Sahithya Aladakatti, Vignaneshwar Government Law College Principal Shivanand Leganti and others were present.