Ahmedgarh/Amargarh/Malerkotla, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Making direct contact with people and ensuring effective protection of their human rights have emerged as key priorities of the Punjab State and Chandigarh Human Rights Commission, said Commission member Padma Shri Jitender Singh Shunty during open hearing camps held in Ahmedgarh and Amargarh in Malerkotla district.
Shunty presided over the camps, heard grievances from residents and discussed their resolution with officials of the concerned departments. He said the Commission’s objective was to ensure that every citizen’s fundamental and human rights guaranteed by the Constitution remain protected.
He said awareness about rights, accessible hearings and appropriate disposal of complaints were among the Commission’s major priorities. To strengthen its outreach, core groups comprising 10 to 15 members have been constituted in every district of Punjab. These groups include advocates, doctors, retired officials and educated and socially aware young people and other citizens.
Shunty said Punjab had become the first human rights commission in the country to constitute such core groups across all districts.
He said the Commission previously received around 10 to 15 complaints a day, but awareness campaigns and open hearing camps had increased the number to around 500 complaints daily.
People can submit written complaints regarding human rights violations from home through WhatsApp at 98554-75547. Shunty said complaints are registered within the prescribed timeframe and action is initiated accordingly.
He said matters concerning healthcare and patients’ rights were also being taken up seriously. Holding a deceased person’s body by a hospital over unpaid bills, he said, was a serious human rights issue, and the Commission was focusing on protecting the rights of affected families. He also underlined the importance of ambulance services, blood bank arrangements, and the safety and dignity of hospital staff.
Shunty called for strict action against illegal immigration agents who defraud people on the pretext of sending them abroad and urged victims to submit written complaints in cases of fraud.
Appealing to core teams, social organisations and socially conscious citizens to act as the Commission’s “eyes and ears”, he said civil society organisations had an important role in bringing human rights-related shortcomings to light. He added that aware citizens and active social organisations could together create a stronger environment for protecting human rights.
During the Ahmedgarh camp, Shunty directed the concerned departments to address complaints related to the bus stand, blood bank, fire brigade, ambulance services, road construction and public toilets on the spot. He also directed the police department to resolve genuine complaints promptly so that ordinary citizens did not face unnecessary difficulties.
Those present included Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Rimpi Garg; DSP Ahmedgarh Inderpal Singh Chohan; DSP Amargarh Deepinder Singh; District Revenue Officer Navjot Tiwari; Private Secretary to the Member B.S. Bedi; Civil Surgeon Dr. Pardeep Kumar; Senior Medical Officer Dr. Jyoti Kapoor; DFSC Munees Pajni; Club President Rakesh Kumar Garg; District Social Security Officer Dr. Lovelyn Baring; Executive Officer Ashish Kumar; Naib Tehsildar Amargarh Praveen Kumar; Dr. Sunit Hind; PA to Amargarh MLA Abhijot Singh; and core team members Mahinder Kaur Kataria, Meenakshi, Nadeem Anwar Khan, Sueib Ahmad Khan (Saibi), Sheikh Yishan Qureshi, Ajhar Khan, Abad Khurd, Lovdeep Singh, Dr. Satish Kumar, Harbans Singh, Beant Singh, Irfan, Mohammad Shahid, Manju Harkiran Kaur and Manjinder Singh.
District administration officials, panchayat representatives, NGOs, resident welfare associations and other prominent representatives also attended the camps.
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