contents - Jananeethi

ANNUAL REPORT - 2003-2004Courts) were always at our help wherevertheir assistance was required.Crisis Intervention and ConflictResolution:Crisis intervention and conflict resolutionin matters like marriage, dowry, propertyrights, custody of children, domestic violence,sexual atrocities/exploitations, desertion,maintenance, money matters, alcohol anddrug abuses, threats from money lenders andprivate financiers, situations leading tosuicides, corruption, environmental havoc dueto unlawful soil / sand mining, employment ofchild labour, and child abuse were among thetopics Jananeethi has taken up during the yearunder report. Apart from the services of themembers of law faculty in Jananeethi, servicesof professional clinical psychiatrists,psychologists and physicians likeDr.K.S.Shaji, Dr.Praveenlal, Dr.ThomasAmbooken, Dr.Jose Anto, Ms.MercySebastian, Dr.Sebastian Criton,Prof.N.N.Gokuldas, Dr.Rajalakshmi,Dr.Varghese Chackola, Dr.P.U.Ashokan andDr.Sunithy Ashokan were also availed of orrelied on by Jananeethi at critical situations inthe process of resolving problems.V. HUMAN RIGHTSHuman rights have been recognized asstandards of achievement and norms ofbehavior of all members of a society, inparticular of those in authority like the16governments or other agencies who have thepower to influence the behaviour of others.However, human rights are not limited toclaims against the State, but to ensure just,fair and humane treatment among people.There is much in Indian society that isgratuitously cruel and indefensibly unfair. Indiastill has to confront and discipline disturbingareas of indifference, hostility and cruelty,which terrorize the social landscape and arean embarrassment to just human endeavour.Jananeethi, therefore, has dealt with humanrights in a larger spectrum including the civicresponsibility in protecting and promotinghuman rights and legal literacy.Our mission to promote and protecthuman rights in the widest sense is moreimportant than ever; our responsibility to actmore urgent – that while some wanted to focuson human rights as a civil and political issue,others wanted equal attention to economic,social and cultural rights, complaining bitterlythat the right to vote is worth little, if theirchildren are hungry and do not have accessto safe water.a) Combat Torture:In Challa Ramakrishna Reddy case, theSupreme Court of India observed: “Aprisoner, be he a convict or under-trial ordetenue, does not cease to be a human being.Even when lodged in jail, he continues to enjoyall his fundamental rights including right to life.On being convicted of crime and deprived of