Centre has asked state governments to set up special courts to try cases of human rights violation, Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken told Rajya Sabha today.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he said 10 states have already set up Human Rights Courts to try cases like custodial deaths.
"We wish all states set up such designated courts soon," he said.
On the question of honour killings, he said such a killing was "just like any other murder" and carried the same punishment. "By using different terms, there is no distinction between the two," he said.
About the appointment of National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Maken said only a retired Supreme Court judge below the age of 70 can hold the post.
There are only two persons who meet the criteria and both have declined the offer saying they are either not inclined or not available for the job, he said.
On custodial deaths in Jammu and Kashmir, he said three custodial deaths were reported from the state during the past three years. No custodial death was reported in 2006-07, three in 2007-08 and nil in 2008-09, he added.
