No plan to make human rights impact assessment must for companies: Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: The government on Friday said there is no proposal to make human rights impact assessment mandatory for companies and NHRC can make recommendations to authorities concerned of central and state governments in case of proven violation of human rights.

Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley told the Lok Sabha that the Companies Act does not contain any provision related to human rights impact assessment ( HRIA) for companies.

"There is no proposal before the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to make HRIA mandatory for companies," Jaitley said in a written reply.

Further, he said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which deals with complaints about alleged violation of human rights by a public servant only, does not maintain a separate incident code or record under the head HRIA.

In case of proven violation of human rights, NHRC can make recommendations to the authorities concerned in central/state governments, Jaitley said.

"Appropriate recommendations have been made by NHRC to the government authorities concerned for relief/rehabilitation of the project affected in cases of displacement of villagers/local people on account of acquisition of lands for 'mega projects' in various states," he noted.