Internship Experience @ PSHRC, Chandigarh: Increased awareness about human rights as a separate branch of law

Your Name, College, Year of Study, Email ID

Kavita Pal
Institute Of Law, Kurukshetra University 3rd year

Name of Organisation, Location city, Team Strength

Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), Chandigarh, Team Strength:20 – 25

Application Process with contact details

Interns have to submit the following details in order to fill the application for internship.

1. Copy of 10th and 12th mark sheet.

2. Latest CV.

3. Reason for joining PSHRC.

4. Recommendation letter from the Head of Department.

5. College ID proof.

6. Passport size photograph.

These details can be sent via e-mail (pshrc.chd@gmail.com) or personally at sector 34- A Chandigarh.

After selection interns are invited to join the commission on particular date.

Duration of internship and timings

13th June, 2016 to 13th July, 2016, Timing 09:00 am to 2:00 pm.

First impression, first day formalities, infrastructure

My first impression of the commission was very informative.

We were guided meticulously about our jobs.

The ambiance was great.

On the first day, we were asked to mark our attendance and then each and every intern introduced themselves.

It was really great to know students from different law schools.

The infrastructure was also good and the best part was that the room was air conditioned

Main tasks

At first, we all were divided into different groups with each group consisting of 4-5 members.

Our main tasks were to read the complaints received by the commission.

After a thorough reading, we had to analyse whether the complaint was within our jurisdiction and according to that we had to put a form on the complaint.

Green form if the complaint was within our jurisdiction, pink form if the complaint is not in our jurisdiction and white form if the complaint is being received for the second time.

Apart from that, we had really informative debates, discussions on the current issues, case laws etc

Work environment and people

Work environment was wonderful.

All the interns were very dedicated and hardworking.

The discussions were fun as well as knowledgeable.

The debates on the current events made us abreast about all the events happening around the world.

The staff was very affable and amiable and they helped us in a great way.

Best things

The best thing was that we were made to read the actual complaints by people all over Punjab.

It gave us a first hand experience of the condition of human rights in Punjab.

The fact that we were submitting those complaints and helping people in need was the best thing.

It made me feel content and happy

Bad things

I don’t have any such bad experience to discuss in this section.

Stipend

No stipend.

Biggest Lessons

The biggest lesson was the knowledge of human rights.

It increased our awareness about human rights as a separate branch of law.

Also, it taught us their importance.

The commission is a great platform for those people whose human rights are being violated

Any Other Thing

PSHRC is one of the best HR Commissions in India after NHRC and one should definitely experience an internship there in the first or second year of their studies.

Accommodation

I commuted from my house in Pinjore itself, which meant that accommodation wasn’t a problem. Most of the people from our batch were Chandigarh residents, or had relatives in the city. But for others, good PGs are available in south extension area.