REVIEW Of LAWS. IMPLEMENTATION Of TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Of HUMAN RIGHTS I 47 consider afresh its position in respect of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol on this subject have been recounted in earlier reports. In the course of the year, the Commission also received a number of communications from non-governmental organisations stating that there was evident need for India to adopt national legislation, consistent with the Convention and Protocol, to protect refugees in the country in a better manner. Numerous complaints were received alleging inconsistency and discrimination in the handling of different groups of refugees, it is also being asserted that, on occasion, acts of'refoulemenf or the forced repatriation of refugees against their will, were occurring. The Commission considered such commimications carefully and, on each occasion, sought the response of the Ministries of External Affairs and of Home Affairs. Both denied that 'refoulemenf had occurred. The Ministry of External Affairs added that a legal framework to deal with refugee issues already existed in the relevant provisions of the Indian Constitution, the obligations undertaken by India under various international human rights instruments, particularly the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and a series of judicial pronouncements. In addition, there had been refugee-specific legislation enacted whenever considered necessary, such as the legislation dealing with refugees from Pakistan in the period 1947-50 and the Foreigners from Uganda Order, 1972. 4.24 The Commission considered this response on 3 November 2000. It was of the view that the reasons given by the Ministry of External Affairs to deny the need for comprehensive national legislation to deal with refugees were not convincing. The Commission is firmly of the opinion that a comprehensive national law ought to be devised, keeping in view the decisions of the Supreme Court as well as international instruments on the subject. The Secretary General of the Commission has been asked to take up this matter with the Foreign Secretary. The Commission proposes to pursue this matter and to hold in-depth discussions with the Foreign Secretary and others concerned in this regard. E] National Plan of Action for the Promotion and ■ Protection of Human Rights 4.25 The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights organised an InterSessional Regional Workshop on National Plans of Action for the Promotion and ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001