Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, June 30: In its annual report, the State Human Rights Commission said over 200 human rights’ violation complaints are pending before the Commission due to non-availability of chairperson/members.
The annual report (2014-2015) of the SHRC, which was tabled in Legislative Council, today by Minister for Social Welfare, Sajjad Gani Lone observed that non-availability of chairperson/members has resulted in piling up of complaints.
“… The Commission has received 138 complaints at its headquarter (Srinagar) and 69 complaints (cases) at its sub-office (Jammu) which are pending for want of cognizance/action due to non-availability of chairperson/members, ” the report read and reminded Government that it is headless.
The Commission in its report observed that the recommendations of the Commission are based after holding full enquiry viz after recording evidence and documentary material and on examination of documents/material with the assistance of parties who are provided full opportunity to put their point/case before the Commission.
” It is painful that the recommendations so made by the Commission in some cases either not followed or declined to be complied with on flimsy grounds and that too on the report of a low rung officials of the Revenue agency or Police Department,” it said.
The Commission said there is no justification of the recommendations and to conduct fresh enquiry(ies) with the result the complainant(s) dismay to see the approach of the authorities/functionaries, though they are/ have been provided justice after two or three years from the Commission.
“No such procedure is in vogue in any part of the country even in National Human Rights Commission. This practice encourages corruption and misuse of power of officers/ officials of the concerned department. The same should be stopped henceforth,” it said. The SHRC in its report, however, said that the as good sign in the majority of the cases the recommendations of the Commission are compiled with by the implementing agencies.
The SHRC further said that the recommendations of the Commission should receive due attention and get adequate weight-age. The Commission in its report also decried lesser allocation of funds, saying it is hampering its smooth functioning.
“… We want to place on record that much needs to be done so far as other spheres of the working of the Commission are concerned. First and foremost being that adequate funds under additional budgets/revised budget are not allotted which hamper smooth functioning of the Commission.
“To overcome financial constraints, the Commission has been repeatedly requesting the Government to allot the funds to the Commission in the shape of grants as provided U/S 21 of the Act, instead of normal annual budgetary allotment, the demand is again reiterated,” it said.
The SHRC in its report said that “it is of the considered opinion that much is desired to be done though it cannot be overlooked that the Commission has done its bit in most trying conditions with all sorts of difficulties, sufficiently in spreading the human rights literacy, promotion, protection and reaching the people whose rights are violated”.
“The Commission has and is making recommendations in appropriate cases after examination and determination of the merits of each case on observance of due procedure. There is no room for any despair of pessimistic attitude,” it stated, adding that “it is the duty of the SHRC to strive hard and try and try again to ameliorate its functioning” and “make it purpose oriented”.
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