Justice On Trial (NGO)
Encyclopedia
Justice On Trial is a Gujarat based non governmental organization that aims to promote unity and integrity of the nation through exposure of injustice prevailing in various areas of India
, with the goal of suggesting ways to eradicate them. JOT chooses topics for enquiry on the basis of, "information received from various sources about grievances of classes of people in various parts of the country in respect of injustices and inequalities in various spheres of the society and the public response to such problems."
to determine the truth regarding conflicting reports surrounding the Shabari
Kumbh Mela
, meeting with local Christian
and Hindu
leaders.
Another enquiry looked into the problems in Singur
and Nandigram
in West Bengal
in the year 2007. It was headed by Honourable Justice Shri M. Ramkrishna, former Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir and Assam
High Courts.
A further enquiry was held on the incidents of the Kandhmal district of Orissa
. This committee was headed by Shri G.S. Gill, former Additional Advocate General of Rajasthan
.
In addition, an enquiry was held to enquire into the problems of the North Cachhar Hills of Assam
under the chairmanship of Honourable Shri Justice M.V. Tamaskar, former Judge of Madhya Pradesh
High Court. Eminent persons including Honourable Shri Justice S.M. Soni, former Judge of the Gujarat High Court
and former Lokayukta
of Gujarat, Shri P.C. Dogra IPS
(Retd), former Director General of Police, Punjab, Shri Y.R. Patil IPS
(Retd), and Smt. Nafeesa Hussain, former member of the National Commission for Women
, were associated with these enquiries as members of committee.
In 2008, JOT published a report regarding the murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati
by Christian terrorists from the rebel group the National Liberation Front of Tripura
, pointing out that, "Christian missionaries attacked Swami eight times earlier for opposing clandestine conversion activities." The report also dismissed claims that the murder was conducted solely by "Maoists."
JOT conducted a survey of the Jammu region in 2010, finding that:
All the above enquiries were completed within reasonable time and the reports of the committees were forwarded to high dignitaries and responsible authorities including H.E. the President of India and the Governors of concerned States. Action is being taken on the reports of these committees.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, with the goal of suggesting ways to eradicate them. JOT chooses topics for enquiry on the basis of, "information received from various sources about grievances of classes of people in various parts of the country in respect of injustices and inequalities in various spheres of the society and the public response to such problems."
Background
Justice On Trial is a Trust duly registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act having its registered office at Ahmedabad in the State of Gujarat. It is non-government, non-political institution run by citizens who have decades of experience in working in diverse fields of human activity. The organization describes its mission as follows:Members of JOT are deeply concerned about the problems faced by various sections of the society in different parts of the country and are always ready to extend a helping hand to the affected people by enquiring into and finding out the root causes of the problem and providing and suggesting possible solutions as also by spreading information about the correct factual situation and by espousing the cause of the affected people before various government and non-government organizations. JOT aims at exposing and eliminating all kinds of injustices in the society at all levels and for this purpose institutes Enquiries and Fact finding Committees from time to time focussing on specific problems.
Notable Cases
In 2006, JOT undertook a fact-finding committee in the Dang districtDang district
Dang is a district in the state of Gujarat in India. The administrative headquarters of the district are located in Ahwa. The Dangs have an area of 1764 km² and a population of 186,729 ....
to determine the truth regarding conflicting reports surrounding the Shabari
Shabari
Shabari is an elderly woman ascetic in the Hindu epic Ramayana. According to the Ramayana, she was an ardently devoted woman who received Rama's darshan and blessing due to her Bhakti to Him.- Story :...
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges river.The normal Kumbh Mela is celebrated every 3 years, the Ardh Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Prayag, the Purna Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain,...
, meeting with local Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
leaders.
Another enquiry looked into the problems in Singur
Singur
Singur is a census town in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Singur railway station is 34 km from Howrah Station on the Howrah-Tarakeswar line. It is 2 km ahead of Kamarkundu junction, the crossing point of Howrah-Bardhaman chord and Howrah-Tarakeshwar lines. It is on...
and Nandigram
Nandigram
Nandigram is a rural area with two commuunity development blocks in Haldia subdivision of Purba Medinipur district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located about 70 km south-west of Kolkata, on the south bank of the Haldi River, opposite the industrial city of Haldia...
in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
in the year 2007. It was headed by Honourable Justice Shri M. Ramkrishna, former Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir and Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
High Courts.
A further enquiry was held on the incidents of the Kandhmal district of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. This committee was headed by Shri G.S. Gill, former Additional Advocate General of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
In addition, an enquiry was held to enquire into the problems of the North Cachhar Hills of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
under the chairmanship of Honourable Shri Justice M.V. Tamaskar, former Judge of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
High Court. Eminent persons including Honourable Shri Justice S.M. Soni, former Judge of the Gujarat High Court
Gujarat High Court
The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...
and former Lokayukta
LokAyukta
The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in the Indian states.The Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Morarji Desai submitted a special interim report on "Problems of Redressal of Citizen's Grievances' in 1966...
of Gujarat, Shri P.C. Dogra IPS
IPS
- Medicine and biology :* Induced pluripotent stem cell* Intermittent photic stimulation, a neuroimaging technique* Intraparietal sulcus, a region of the brain* Ips , a genus of bark beetle- Media and entertainment :...
(Retd), former Director General of Police, Punjab, Shri Y.R. Patil IPS
IPS
- Medicine and biology :* Induced pluripotent stem cell* Intermittent photic stimulation, a neuroimaging technique* Intraparietal sulcus, a region of the brain* Ips , a genus of bark beetle- Media and entertainment :...
(Retd), and Smt. Nafeesa Hussain, former member of the National Commission for Women
National Commission for Women
The National Commission for Women is a statutory body for women established in 1992 by Government of India under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, as defined in the 1990 National Commission for Women Act.. The present head of the Commission is Mrs...
, were associated with these enquiries as members of committee.
In 2008, JOT published a report regarding the murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati
Swami Lakshmanananda
Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati was a Hindu monk and a highly revered spiritual leader who lived a life dedicated to tribal welfare. The Swami was a native of Gurujanga village in Talcher and a tribal himself. Over four decades ago, he left his wife and one year old son to become monk, and moved to...
by Christian terrorists from the rebel group the National Liberation Front of Tripura
National Liberation Front of Tripura
The National Liberation Front of Tripura is a Tripuri nationalist militant organization based in Tripura, India.The NLFT seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state, and has actively participated in the Tripura Rebellion...
, pointing out that, "Christian missionaries attacked Swami eight times earlier for opposing clandestine conversion activities." The report also dismissed claims that the murder was conducted solely by "Maoists."
JOT conducted a survey of the Jammu region in 2010, finding that:
...inadequate relief is being provided to the affected people while delay in processing relief cases, non-registration of migrated people of Jammu province, complaints regarding SRO-43, no payment of salaries to the SPOs, injustice with the VDCs, no special employment package for affected areas and worst condition of Talwara migrants are other problems being faced by the population in these areas.
All the above enquiries were completed within reasonable time and the reports of the committees were forwarded to high dignitaries and responsible authorities including H.E. the President of India and the Governors of concerned States. Action is being taken on the reports of these committees.
Notable Members
- Justice S.M. Soni (Retd.), Gujarat High CourtGujarat High CourtThe Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organisation Act, 1960 after the state split from Bombay State.The seat of the court is Ahmedabad...
and former LokayuktaLokAyuktaThe Lokayukta is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in the Indian states.The Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Morarji Desai submitted a special interim report on "Problems of Redressal of Citizen's Grievances' in 1966...
of Gujarat
- Sardar Gucharan Singh Gill, Additional Advocate General,Government of RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, SikhSikhA Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
Activist
- V.S. Kokje, former Himachal PradeshHimachal PradeshHimachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
Governor and Judge of Madhya PradeshMadhya PradeshMadhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, and former Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High CourtRajasthan High CourtThe Rajasthan High Court is the High Court of the state of Rajasthan. It was established on 21 June 1949 under the Rajasthan High Court Ordinance, 1949.The seat of the court is at Jodhpur...
- P.C. Dogra Indian Police ServiceIndian Police ServiceThe Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
(Retd), former Director General of Police, Punjab
- Justice M.V. Tamaskar, former Judge of Madhya Pradesh High CourtMadhya Pradesh High CourtThe Madhya Pradesh High Court is the High Court of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It was established as the Nagpur High Court on 2 January 1936 under the Government of India Act 1935. The Court was established in Nagpur, but after the reorganisation of states on 1 November 1956, it was moved to...
- Y.R. Patil Indian Police ServiceIndian Police ServiceThe Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
(Retd)
- Nafisa Hussain, MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
women's rightsWomen's rightsWomen's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
activist, and former member of the National Commission for WomenNational Commission for WomenThe National Commission for Women is a statutory body for women established in 1992 by Government of India under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, as defined in the 1990 National Commission for Women Act.. The present head of the Commission is Mrs...
- Captain M.K. Andhare
- Yazadi Karanjia
- Manishaben Joshi
- Deen Mohammad Otha, M.D., a renowned gynecologist of BhavnagarBhavnagar-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
, Gujarat,
- Yogesh Patel, M.D., psychiatrist of VadodaraVadodaraVadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
, Gujarat
- Maya Bohra, prominent practising psychologist from IndoreIndoreIndore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
- Sukhpreet Kaur Grewal, prominent social activist from Bhopal
- Shri Kanhaiyalal Joshi, social activist from AhmedabadAhmedabadAhmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
- Y.N. Karanjia, Dramatist, Educationist, winner of Gujarat Gaurav Award from SuratSuratSurat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...