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Awareness about rights growing: Patra

CUTTACK: People of the State are now more aware of their rights and the human rights of various strata of the society are now well preserved, says Orissa Human Rights Commission Chairman R.K. Patra.

Speaking to The Hindu on the eve of the completion of five years of OHRC on July 11, Justice Patra on Thursday said that efforts were now being made by the commission to see that the pending cases were disposed off soon. He, however, said that seeking a report from the opposition party concerned and hearing the complainant was a time consuming process for which the pending cases were mounting.

“Public awareness in the State has been growing encouragingly and people of various strata of society are now approaching the commission if their basic rights are violated,” Justice Patra said adding that the purview of the commission was now getting vast day by day.

He said the commission was being approached by even government employees pertaining to violation of human rights in service matters.

“Even some persons are approaching the commission seeking employment under various rehabilitation schemes of the government,” the chairman said adding that such cases were also being entertained.

The OHRC was set up in the State on July 11, 2003 with Justice D.P. Mohapatra as its first chairman. Following Justice Mohapatra’s retirement, Justice Patra, who had served as acting Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, was appointed to the coveted post. Prior to the present appointment, Justice Patra had served as the president of the Orissa State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission for over three years.

According to a report, the OHRC during its five years of existence has received nearly 6000 complaints while it has taken suo moto cognisance of over 500 cases.

In about half of these cases, the commission completed hearing and made suggestions to the government while investigations into the remaining cases are on.

Among the complaints received by the commission, maximum cases of HR violations are registered against the police.

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