The Chairman of the Majlis' Judicial and Legal Committee Abdolnasser Qavami was quoted yesterday as saying that violations are there' in prisons of Iran.

The principle of checks and balances which have been envisaged in our Constitution provides for the Legislature to investigate into the performance of some organizations under the Judiciary.

The Judicial Commission of the Parliament as well as the Commission of Article 90 have been vested with this power. What is important about this provision is its proper implementation. True, the Judicial Commission of the Parliament has the right to investigate into the performance of prisons, but if the investigation is not impartial, it would play havoc with the fate of the inmates.

Unfortunately the report released by the Judicial Commission indicates that the commission is under the influence of a certain political faction. In other words, the commission is mainly concerned about the fate of those inmates who have political leanings or are members of a political faction.

Indeed the law has envisaged supervisory powers for each branch of the government to prevent the oppression of those who do not have any political backing.

Violation of law might have occurred in a close atmosphere like prison. The law too has vested the Parliament with the power to investigate and find ways to prevent such violations. But the Majlis commission, instead of supporting the ordinary inmates whose rights might have been violated, has only studied the case of few prisoners who have the backing of political parties. Naturally the prison officials as a norm do not violate the rights of those who are backed by a political party or a political figure.

If the Majlis commission confines its investigation into few cases, then it has not rendered justice, for the rights of those who do not have any political backing will remain unnoticed, which is really unpardonable.

The violation of law -- if any -- in prisons is a tragedy, but partial investigation into the case will be a real tragedy.