Association for Protection of Civil Rights
(Registered Under Society Act)
E-51, Abul Fazl Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi – 110 025

New Delhi:February 2007

Mr. Yusuf Hatim Muchhala, Senior Advocate, Mumbai, put forward the plight of minorities and downtrodden population of the country. He said that before the minorities main issues are: Identity, Equity and Safety and Security.

Mr. Muchhala delivered his presidential address on the occasion of General Body Meeting of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) (a regd. Society) held on February If at Seminar Room in Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.

He said that many organizations of Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are working in the field of identity. Referring to Sachar Committee he expressed, although the committee took up many issues of Muslims but it did not discussed the problem of equity. He impressed that suffering communities should be vigilant in matters concerning the safety and security and should work with utmost care before communal frenzy takes shape.

He expressed that a clear concept over the problem of police bias should be developed and recommendations should be made to the Police Commission constituted at the instance of Supreme Court.

Mr. Muchhala highlighted the issues of (1) the problem of SEZ, (2) monopolization of retail business by big business houses, and (3) slum rehabilitation which largely affect downtrodden sections of society. He further highlighted the defects in the Waqf Act and stressed the need for inclusion of professionals, town planners, chartered accounts in the Waqf Boards apart from advocates.

The meeting. of the APCR was represented by eminent persons from different states:

Delhi, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Maharashtra and Bihar. The participants brought out problems prevailing in their States. The State of Kerala had been peaceful but in the recent past the situation has changed. The State is facing rising communalism, unlawful detentions. In M.P., Gujarat, V.P., Maharashtra, the Muslims are worst affected by communal frenzy. In none of the States in India there exists organized legal aid mechanism.

In Delhi jails the under trials are languishing for a longer period that what they would have been sentenced on conviction.

The Secretary informed about the APCR put in its mite in the field of civil rights. Extensive tours were undertaken.

Workshops were held in Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, A.P., Rajasthan. In Calicut, a ‘national level workshop was held. Meetings were held in different States. People at large were informed of the civil rights.

For future it has been decided to establish contacts with NGOs, organisations and academicians and intellectuals all over the country working in the same field. One national level workshop and three regional level workshops will be organized to highlight the grievances of minorities and weaker sections in the background of activities going on for the reform” of Police Act. Work is continuing on a project” ‘demonstrable documents/data on biased government agencies framing political dissidents and communities’ with the aim of generating awareness in public, governments and national and international institutions and organizations working for protection of human rights. Ensure participation of women at all levels and activities of the APCR.