NEW DELHI, Nov 24 ? The Expert Panel appointed to review the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act today met for the first time and began preliminary discussions. The meeting was chaired by Justice (Rtd.) BP Jeevan Reddy and members who attended the meeting included Dr. S.B. Nakade, PP Shrivastav and Sanjoy Hazarika. Lt Gen VR Raghavan was unable to attend as he was out of station.
The Committee in its first meeting decided to finalise the tour programme to the northeastern States where the Act is in force including Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura.
?Keeping in view the legitimate concerns of the people of the northeastern Region, human rights, requirements of national security and maintenance of public order, the Committee proposes to examine the Act and advise the Government whether to amend the provisions of the Act to bring these in accordance with the obligations of the Government towards protection of human rights or to replace it by a more humane Act, a release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.
The committee would be inviting the suggestions, opinions and viewpoints of all concerned groups, organizations, including governmental agencies, and individuals, the release said.
The committee is in the process of setting up an office with necessary infrastructure to enable it to function effectively. Communications in the interim may be addressed to the following email addresses: bpjeevanreddy@rediffmail.com, ppshri@bol.net.in, sanhaza@yahoo.com, genraghavan@yahoo.com and also to Dr. S.B. Nakade, near Saraswati Colony, Latur 413531, Dist. Latur, Maharashtra, Tel. 02382-246030, it was stated.