Karnataka High Court upset over pending cases before state rights panel

BENGALURU: Expressing displeasure against the functioning of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the Karnataka High Court on Thursday observed that of the 300 to 400 cases being registered with the commission, not even half of them are being disposed of. The court was hearing petition relating to Police Complaints Authority.

The court came down heavily upon the functioning of SHRC and observed that it is losing its value. In 2015 around 865 cases were registered with the commission and of them only 23 has been disposed of, whereas since 2007 more than 400 cases have been registered, but very few has been disposed. The court further observed that such cases, which need to be disposed of within three months, were pending before the commission for several years.

“The SHRC office is located somewhere inside the M.S. Building complex and many are not even aware about such an office there and many would have returned without filing complaints. Whereas, the office of Police Complaints Authority has been set up inside the premises of Vikas Soudha, where the public are not allowed easily,” court observed.

The court said that despite several orders and directions passed over the effective implementation of Police Complaints Authority, no concrete steps has been taken by the government. The court asked the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit by March 31 on steps taken to implement its order, failing which Chief Secretary would be asked to be present in person.

Verify documents
The High Court directed Protector General of Emigrants Office to verify and submit report with regard to the documents submitted by 21 nurses, who were stopped before boarding Kuwait bound flight at Kempe Gowda International Airport. The nurses had approached the court after their boarding passes were cancelled.