HIGHLIGHTS : 2008-2009 Chapter -2 The defence of human rights is, in essence, the defence of human dignity. It is for this purpose that the NHRC was established in the country in the year 1993. It is a purpose that derives not only from the Statute of the Commission but from the Constitution itself, for Article 21 of the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, means that all who live in India have a right to live with human dignity. 2.1 2.2 The Annual Reports of the NHRC, including this Report, give an account of the incremental efforts of the Commission to reach out towards that goal – that is, respect for the integrity of the human being. This has led to a further observation: it is essential for the Commission to focus, in equal measure, on economic, social and cultural rights, just as it does on civil and political rights. The indivisibility and inter-related nature of these rights is a reality and there is a symbiosis between them. 2.3 The ensuing paragraphs highlight some of the major events and activities of the NHRC during the period April 2008 to March 2009. Meetings of the NHRC 2.4 During the year under review, the Full Commission deliberated upon and decided various cases of human rights violations in 102 meetings/Court hearings. The other programme and administrative agenda items were dealt with in 28 meetings. The Statutory Full Commission, which includes deemed Members, also met once. CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS Disposal of Human Rights Violation Cases 2.5 During the year under review, 90,946 cases were registered and 1, 03,996 cases were disposed off by the Commission. The latter figure includes cases of previous years also. Preventing Custodial Violence 2.6 The NHRC received 1,527 cases of deaths in judicial custody*, 127 cases of deaths in police custody and 6 cases of deaths in para-military/defence forces custody during the period under review. It disposed off 2,349 cases of custodial deaths – comprising 2,147 cases of deaths in judicial custody, 201 cases of deaths in police custody and 1 case of death in para-military/ defence forces custody. These figures also include cases of previous years. 13