Human rights violations of Indians since 2014!

By M.Y.Siddiqui

The Constitution of India guarantees its citizens fundamental rights, such as right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and the right to constitutional remedies. Besides, are the right to life, right to freedom from torture, right to equal treatment before the law, right to freedom of movement, right to return, right to asylum, right to marry and the right to freedom of thought. The founding fathers of the Constitution had their cherished motives to ensure that people of India live in personal dignity and individual honour within the frame of oneness of people amidst their diversity and oneness of the nation. But to the disadvantages of the people, their fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution stand diminished and violated with impunity since 2014, when the RSS Pariwar union government took over.

From 2014 to the present, significant human rights concerns in India include attacks on free speech, harassment of civil society, intimidation of government critics, inadequate protection of Muslims, Christians, women, Dalits and Adivasis. While these people live in fear and insecurity, concerns persist regarding legal impunity for government officials and security forces, while laws that grant these groups impunity remain in force. The 2016 report of Human Rights Watch states that India has “ serious human rights concerns”, where civil society groups face harassments and government critics face intimidation and law suits. Free speech has come under attack, both from the state and by interest groups. Minorities and vulnerable sections accuse authorities of not doing enough to protect their rights. The government is yet to repeal laws that grant public (government) officials and security forces immunity from prosecution for abuses”.

There have been reports of concerns relating to increased pressure on civil society groups and government critics through harassment, intimidation, incarceration and lawsuits. Minorities and other vulnerable sections of people live in insecurity and fears accusing authorities of not taking sufficient measures to safeguard their rights. India has been criticized for failing to repeal laws that shield public officials and security forces from prosecution for abuses of their power. The concerns have intensified following taking over of the union government by the RSS Pariwar after general elections to the Lok Sabha (House of the People) in 2014. While India is a party to international human rights treaties, various reports highlight a significant gap between legal commitments and the ground realities.

As for the civil liberties, in 2021, the US based Freedom House ranked India as “partly free” at 67 points in its annual Freedom in the World rankings on political rights and civil liberties. Since 1919 and as of 2023, annual reports on the state of democracy around the world, Sweden based V-Dem Institute reported hundreds of indicator variables describing all aspects of government, especially on the quality of democracy, inclusivity and other economic indicators. Accordingly, the core indices are: the electoral democracy index, the liberal democratic index, the participatory democracy index and the egalitarian democracy index, where principle of electoral or representative democracy, including free and fair elections, prevalence of a free and independent media and central components of democracy like rule of law, checks & balance have been shown to be in the areas of particular concern.

Indian democracy, heavily inspired by Robert Dahl’s theory based on six institutional guarantees of elected 

representatives, free and faire elections, freedom of expressions (press freedom), alternative sources of information, associational autonomy and inclusive citizenships, is witnessing Dahl’s prerequisites are not fulfilled, with legislative institutions defacto undermined and electoral accountability evaded, reveals the V-Dem Index. It also reported how rampant were violations of women’s rights and violations of freedom of religion, in addition to religious violence and human rights abuses.

Freedom of expression reports from international and domestic human rights organisations/watchdogs have documented escalating human rights violations in India since 2014, including suppression of free expression, erosion of minority rights, and police impunity. Rights groups report that the government’s rhetoric and policies have exacerbated discrimination and violence against religious and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims, Christians, Dalits and Adivasis.  Reports from 2024 and 2025 note serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom. Authorities frequently censor online expressions, order Internet shutdowns, and arbitrarily block websites and social media accounts. Since 2014, media independence has seen a systemic decline. Government critics face violence, threats, and fabricated legal cases. Ruling alliance tycoons have taken control of major news outlets. Government frequently orders removal or even shutdown of adversarial news sites or outlets. No wonder, India’s Global Press Freedom Index score has worsened significantly.

Union government have been using counter terrorism and foreign funding laws to harass and intimidate civil society groups, human rights defenders, and activists. Organisations critical of government policies, such as the Centre for Policy Research, have had their licences and funding cancelled.  Communal polarization and anti-Muslim and anti-Christian sentiments have grown, fueled by discriminatory rhetoric and political leaders. Muslims face targeted attacks and vigilantism, including violence from Hindutva mobs over alleged cattle consumption or transport. The government has also used bulldozer justice to demolish Muslim homes and businesses without due process as a form of collective punishment. Christian community among Dalits and Adivasis are facing increasing attacks by Hindutva mobs over allegations of illegal conversions. Repots detail mobs beating pastors and destroying Churches. 

Adivasis and Dalits continue to experience systemic discrimination and violence. They are facing growing attacks, inhuman treatment, and obstacle to justice for sexual violence and other crimes. The 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) introduced a discriminatory path to citizenship that excludes Muslims.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee and other groups report persistent allegations of extrajudicial killings, torture, and cruel treatment by police and other security forces. AFSPA (The Armed Forces Special Powers Act) remains in effect in areas like Jammu & Kashmir and some Northeastern states. The law grants broad powers and effective immunity to security forces for serious human rights abuses, a practice criticized by the United Nations. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recorded deaths in police and judicial custody. Besides, the reports continue to detail instances of enforced disappearances. 

In Jammu & Kashmir, since the revocation of its special status in 1990, human rights have been severely restricted. Journalists and human rights defenders face legal threats, and activists have been arbitrarily detained under draconian laws. Manipur ethnic violence has resulted in significant loss of life, displacement, and reports of sexual violence. The government’s actions have been criticised for deepening mistrust rather than upholding the rule of law.

NHRC and other national commissions like National Commission for Women, National Commission for Scheduled Cases, National Commission for Backward Classes, National Child Rights Protection Commission, National Commission for Minorities, and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes have become dysfunctional redundant with their structural façade maintained intact. They have virtually collapsed. They have failed to protect the interests of the communities they are required to do by law authorized. It is all due to politicized appointments. On recommendations of the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions, the UN have downgraded the NHRC and disaccredited it for its failure to address escalating human rights violations.

The Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) has been used to target NGOs and restrict the work of civil society in charitable works and those critical of large-scale development projects with adverse environmental and ecological impacts. Educational institutions and universities have turned into battleground for ideological rivalries with scientific temper and critical thinking relegated and mythological pasts ascending to keep the people backward.

The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) belongs to all residents of the earth and continues to guide us in India as does the Constitution of India. But there are continuing aberrations in the country under the Sangh led regime, which unless curbed to uphold and ensure flourishing of human rights with attendant rule of law based system of constitutional democratic governance and assured accountability, India will continue to come in for all round downturn of human rights of its people!

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