A Major General rank officer has been appointed as the head of its newly created human rights cell to “give high priority to the observance of human rights convention and values,” India Today quoting unnamed officials reported.
Major General Gautam Chauhan took charge as the first Additional Director General Human Rights in the Indian Army last week and will work under the India Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General SK Saini.
The human rights cell will be the nodal point to examine any human rights violation reports. To enhance transparency and ensure investigative expertise is available to the section, an Indian Police Service officer of SSP/SP rank will be taken on deputation, as per the mandate, the Television report added.
The approval for the human rights cell was given by the Ministry of Defence in August 2019 but it needed more procedural formalities till it could start functioning fully headed by a Major General rank officer directly under the Vice Chief of Army Staff.
The office will look at putting in place a more stringent mechanism to look into human rights violations.
Major General Chauhan, who has been appointed as the first Additional Director General was serving as Brigadier Operations Logistics at Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).
An infantry officer from Gorkha Rifles, Major General Chauhan has headed a brigade in North East. He has also served in the Directorate of the Military Operations (MO).
The office will be the nodal body to examine any human rights violation reports.
