Kerala Police Complaints Authority in deep slumber, claims CHRI report

7 December 2023 (newindianexpress.com) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Despite receiving a large number of complaints, the Kerala State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) has recommended departmental inquiries in only a handful of cases.

Gujarat State Police Complaint Authority Accepted 1 Among 839 Complaints for Probe in 2022: Report

A recent report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, which collated RTI replies from various SPCAs, said that only a small portion of complaints are being accepted for inquiry.

What’s the Meaning of Human Rights Day When Space for Dissent Shrinking by the Day

(Radiancenews.com) On 10th December we will observe Human Rights Day but one may wonder what the significance of Human Rights Day is when the space for dissent is shrinking by the day.

Police complaints authorities in India status, gaps & challenges

Dec 10, 2023 This 75th Human Rights Day, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) shares with you its latest assessment of the working of India's Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs). Police-public interface is an arena in which a very large number of human rights violations occur.

Right to Information: The Central Information Commission’s Leadership Crisis and India’s Democratic Test

theprobe.in 11 October 2023 by Prema Sridevi Amid the challenges facing the Right to Information Act, the CIC grapples with recurring leadership vacancies and a growing backlog of cases, raising concerns over India's commitment to transparency and accountability.

Does your state police tell you who they have arrested?

By: Venkatesh Nayak (Deccanherald.com) It’s the season for ‘surgical strikes’ again, with Lok Sabha elections due in about nine months.

How Modi government is using data privacy as an excuse to cripple the Right to Information

2 August 2023 (Scroll.in) The inherent conflict between the right to privacy and the right to information is being exploited by the government to restrict the Right to Information Act.

Opposition, Activists Raise Alarm as Modi Govt Gets Ready to Pass Data Protection Bill

July 31, 2023 (thewire.in) New Delhi: As The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023 is likely to be tabled in parliament this week, concerns have been raised about the content of the new legislation.

Jason Cowen

Jason Yasin Cowan is a Legal Intern at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). He is a Juris Doctor Candidate at Santa Clara University School of Law, expected to graduate in May 2024.

Mihika Poddar

Mihika Poddar works on research and advocacy initiatives at CHRI. Mihika is also a full-time doctoral student at the University of Oxford, pursuing research in the field of human rights law. Her work focuses on legal recognition of personal identities, including race, sex/gender and caste.