On 14 May 1993 the Indian government introduced a Bill for the establishment of a Human Rights Commission in the Lok Sabha (parliament). This report details Amnesty International’s main concerns relating to the Commission’s mandate, composition and methodology. In particular there is concern that it is excluded from investigating abuses by the army and paramilitary forces in north-east India; there are restrictions placed on its ability to visit jails and other places of detention; it is restricted to those rights contained in the Indian constitution rather than in international standards; and the Commission is bound by a time-limit of one year to act on an alleged violation. A document sent to the goverment in November 1992 outlining AI’s recommendations is appended.
