Statement by Ld Attorney General of India, Sh. R.Venkataramani, at the Fourth Periodic Review by the Human Rights Committee under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at Geneva, Monday 15 July 2024

Esteemed Chairperson,

Esteemed Vice Chair and

Distinguished members of the Committee,

The Constitution of India comprehends the entire fabric of human rights covenants in its fundamental rights and state obligations framework. It synchronises with the covenants in many respects. Our laws relating to liberty and equality are in compliance with the Covenant’s stipulations. The Constitution has evolved along with the faith of the peoples in democracy and orderly realisation of an egalitarian society. It blends with the social consciousness of its peoples and its institutions. It is a transformative Constitution in multiple senses. Seventy-five years of its working shows that India’s parliament, the executive institutions in many forms and the judiciary particularly the Supreme Court and the High courts at various geographical units called States are in promotion of the values of the Constitution. Our courts invoke the UN human rights instruments in their discourses and there is a fine blend of domestic and international law. This moulds the governance consciousness in its deliberations.

India shares the concerns and expectations of its civil society and is truly committed to respond to all calls towards ensuring realisation of its constitutional and human rights goals. India takes with all the earnestness and solemnity, the need for leaving no room for lapses. All occasions and opportunities for taking stock and moving forward deserve attention. India considers interactions with UN human rights bodies, as opportunity for continued engagement.

The extraordinary diversities of India, in faith, religion, culture and languages with no near parallels, and its huge population call for skilful and transforming measures, difficult in formulation and special expertise in performance. The several thousand years of India’s civilisational togetherness and bonding of unique characteristics, are a great source of its ability to walk with confidence and commitments to realisation of dignity in all its dimensions.

India’s commitment to inclusiveness, given all its diversities and the fundamental togetherness, of its people are beyond doubt and India believes that inclusiveness is its social wealth. We respectfully impress upon the relevance of noticing the spread of the constitutional tasks being discharged and the immensity of efforts involved in securing an equal status and equal regard society. The enormity of challenges involved and the measures special to India’s features being undertaken deserve closer attention as against the targets yet to be attained.

Respected chairperson and Hon’ble members, India’s judicial system has evolved splendidly post-independence keeping in tune with the multifarious needs of the society. The Constitutional guarantees of direct access to justice to the Supreme Court and the High Courts for addressing any rights violation, is one of the most vibrant working principles of the Constitution. This guarantee has special features which enhances expeditious and inexpensive access to justice. The rights protection and promotion engagements of the Constitutional Courts of India and the executive governance is participatory and collaborative and is so celebrated as integral to our jurisprudence. Several economic, education, health care advances including social empowerment of women and of wide cross-section of the people particularly socially and economically-deprived sections of society along with India's digital transformation in building a ubiquitous digital infrastructure to ensure ease of living, is unique.

It needs to be mentioned here that India has undertaken one of the biggest criminal law reforms in its history by enacting three major legislations, which addresses important concerns in the administration of criminal justice including expeditious disposal of cases.

India’s commitment to democratic principles can be witnessed from the fact that we are meeting this Committee today in the backdrop of successful completion of the 18th General Election with about six hundred forty-two million voters casting votes with the highest participation by women voters. Another major development in this regard has been the enactment of a Constitutional Amendment in 2023, which mandates reservation of one-thirds of seats for women in the Parliament. Thirty-two years of similar constitutional provision for women’s participation in local governance bodies, has enhanced their role in being equal partners in public life.

In conclusion, Madam Chairperson, I would like to reiterate my delegation’s deep desire to engage with the Human Rights Committee. We look forward to a productive discussion.

I would now invite my learned colleague the Solicitor General of India Mr Tushar Mehta to share his observations.