The Indian Army, for the first time, has appointed a major general rank officer to look into the human rights issue and provide guidance to better the track record of the force. Major General Gautam Chauhan took charge as Additional Director General Human Rights on Thursday and will function under the Indian Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General SK Saini.
Before taking charge of the force's first special human rights cell at the Army Headquarters, which will be the nodal body to look into any rights violations, Major General Chauhan was serving as Brigadier Operations Logistics at Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).
General Chauhan was the nodal man for Covid-19 related issues for tri-services.
Major General Chauhan from the Gorkha Rifles has also commanded brigades in the North-East region and served in Directorate of Military Operations (MO).
The appointment is seen as the Indian Army's engagement to look into human rights issues in the army.
The post of Additional Directorate General Human rights was created under reforms approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as part of the re-organisation of Army Headquarters last year.
The human rights unit was created with a motive to ensure the Army's compliance with human rights conventions and values. It will be the nodal point to examine any human rights violation reports.
The defence ministry had stated, "To enhance transparency and ensure the best of investigative expertise is available to the section, a police officer of SSP/SP rank will be taken on deputation.”
The human right cell will also hold an Indian Police Service officer who will promote necessary coordination with other organisations and the home ministry on the human rights issues at hand.
The decision to have an Indian Police Service officer on board has made a few sections of the Army unhappy and is being seen as inviting unnecessary interference by an outsider.
Army headquarters stated that having a police officer on board is important when it comes to coordinating with different ministries and civil agencies, especially the police.
For the last several years, the force has often been charged with human right violations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East. But the Indian army has maintained that its human rights record is above board.