The ICJ today expressed concern to the Government of India about the arrest of a former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Ajit Singh Bains, on 3 April.
The ICJ Secretary-General Adama Dieng urged that Justice Bains be treated humanely and be granted full legal safeguards while in custody. He requested that Justice Bains be immediately and unconditionally released.
According to information received by the ICJ, Justice Bains was handcuffed and maltreated following his arrest under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act 1987 (TADA). The ICJ is concerned that the provisions of the TADA do not conform with international human rights standards and deplores the inhumane treatment of Justice Bains.
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), headquartered in Geneva, is a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the OAU. Founded 40 years ago, its task is to defend the Rule of Law throughout the world and to work towards the full observance of the provisions in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The ICJ has been a driving force behind the adoption of numerous international declarations and standards including the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, the European Convention Against Torture and the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights. It is composed of 31 distinguished jurists from around the globe and has 75 national sections and affiliated organizations.
