Human Rights of Minority and Assam Human Rights Commission

Minorities, like members of the majority community, are entitled to enjoy all fundamental human rights. However, in India, differences based on religion, language, and culture often place minority communities in a vulnerable position, leading to frequent violations of their human rights. The dominance of the majority and social prejudice contributes to discrimination and injustice against minorities. To safeguard minority rights, various international conventions, national laws, and institutional mechanisms have been established. At the state level in Assam, the Assam Human Rights Commission (A.H.R.C.) plays a significant role in the protection of human rights. The present study examines the nature and causes of human rights violations against minorities in Assam and evaluates the role and functioning of the Assam Human Rights Commission in addressing such issues. The study is based on an analytical research design and relies on secondary sources of data. A total of ten cases registered with the A.H.R.C. between 2012–13 and 2017–18 was selected as reliable data for analysis. The study reveals that incidents such as firing in relief camps, religious discrimination in prisons, harassment of genuine Indian citizens on suspicion of being foreigners, police inaction in cases filed by minority individuals, custodial physical and mental torture, and communal remarks on social media constitute major areas of human rights violations against minorities. The findings further indicate that the Assam Human Rights Commission has undertaken necessary actions within its jurisdiction to protect and promote the human rights of minority communities in the state.