Report and Pics by Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/SP)
 
Udupi, Jun 26: More than 10,000 complaints have been lodged with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) by the general public, till May 2009 since the Commission was set up during 2007. Out of them, nearly 4,000 complaints were redressed, while the rest are in various stages of process, said SHRC chairman S R Nayak.
 
Addressing the media persons at the press conference held at the deputy commissioner’s office here, after accepting petitions from the general public and holding a meeting with the government officials, S R Nayak said that 125 petitions were accepted in the district here, till May 2009. Out of these, 58 have already been redressed.  SHRC had registered cases based on the media reports, for the first time in the country, he added.

 
Meanwhile, Nayak emphasized the need to set up district-wise cells in the police department under SHRC, headed by IGP, DySP and constables.  A proposal in this regard has already been forwarded to the state administration.   If the setting up of separate district-wise cells is not feasible, at least separate cells could be set up under the existing six commissionerates in the state, he said.
 
The SHRC is increasingly receiving complaints of general nature and owing to the apathy of state administration, the Commission is finding it difficult to redress the grievances of the general public to the level of their expectations.  The investigations into the petitions should be undertaken only by the SHRC officers, as the judgment would be biased if the same is done by government officers, he asserted.
 
District head quarters assistant Atmaram and assistant commissioner Ramesh were present on the occasion.