Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has constituted a 2-member commission to probe the Pegasus case. The commission will be headed by former apex court justice Madan Lokur. The other member is a former Justice of the Calcutta High Court. Former Judge Madan Lokur, who has been given the command of the Commission by CM Mamata Banerjee, is a senior member of an NGO funded by the US State Department. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).
The institute has received contributions from the US State Department, the British High Commission of New Delhi, the High Commission of Canada, and others in 2021. According to media reports, the US contribution to the institution was aimed at conducting 'advocacy and outreach programs for prisoners in the northeastern states of India'. The fund was given to the UK to find out 'research on the pace of justice in India and their impact on foreign national detainees and victims of crime'. On the other hand, funds were given by Canada with the objective of 'reimbursement of expenditure'. In addition, CHRI has also received funds from The Kaleidoscope Diversity Trust, Frederick Nowman Stiftung-Germany, The Hans Seattle Foundation, and others. It may be recalled that former Justice Madan Lokur was among the four judges who held a press conference against the then CJI Dipak Misra in 2018. With this, he had issued a statement with others against the ongoing process of NRC as a member of the CHRI.
In the statement, the former Justice had said, "As concerned citizens, we look to the Supreme Court to confirm India's constitutional and international obligations for rights on sensitive issues. We are, therefore, disappointed with the recent statements of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on a complex matter related to illegal detention and deportation." The statement expressed displeasure over a statement by the Chief Justice terming the entire process of NRC as unfortunate. The case was also termed as a case of violation of human rights of 'prisoners' and the court was held responsible for their circumstances.
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