On Saturday, Justice Hima Kohli at the inaugural function of the 11th “Justice P.N. Bhagwati International Moot Court Competition” on Human Rights held at Bharati Vidyapeeth’s New Law College, Pune said The Supreme Court has played a key role in preserving, protecting and promoting human rights,
She was invited as the chief guest at the ceremony, and said, “India’s commitment to human rights is not just limited to the Constitution and its domestic laws. The country is a signatory to several international treaties and conventions that recognise and protect human rights. The right to free speech and expression is yet another precious fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and the courts have played a vital role in interpreting and enforcing this right.”
“Supreme Court of India, being the highest court of the land, has played a vital role in preserving, protecting and promoting human rights in India. Over the years, several landmark judgments have been pronounced to strengthen and amplify the very definition of human rights,” Justice Kohli said.
In recent years, the judiciary has been at the forefront of protecting citizens’ rights, particularly in cases relating to civil liberties, environmental protection and gender justice, Justice Kohli said.
The judgment brought to the fore the importance of protecting the human rights of women and their reproductive rights, and also that of recognising the rights of unborn foetuses, Justice Kohli added.
Justice Kohli said human rights violations take place in many forms, including arbitrary detention, torture, extra-judicial killings and discrimination, and these rights are of utmost importance in times of crises such as armed conflict, natural disasters and pandemics. “Such crises often lead to the displacement of large sections of the population, increased violence and violation of human rights…The present century has witnessed the rise of authoritarianism, global the threat of terrorism and rapid technological advances that have all posed challenges to the protection and promotion of human rights,” Justice Kohli said.
She further said, “When administrations and authorities use excessive power and deploy repressive measures including censorship, surveillance and extra-judicial killings to silence dissent and undermine human rights, it is essential to hold them accountable for their actions and preserve the citizen’s right to privacy, right to a fair trial, and right to free expression. This is where courts step in.”
