Mangalore files the highest number of human rights cases: S R Nayak

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 20: S. R. Nayak, the chairman of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (HRC), said at an interactive meeting held with the public on Nov 20 that after Bangalore, Mangalore files the highest number of human rights cases.

Regarding the land acquisition case of Rukmayya Gowda, who is currently working as the head constable of Uppinangady Police Station, Mr. Nayak said that, in such cases, the victims must file an appeal in the civil court and, if the court rules in the victim’s favour, no department can acquire the land from him.

Another victim complained that she is being harassed and threatened by a boy who wants to marry her. Mr. Nayak advised her to submit an appeal to his commission and assured her that necessary steps will be taken against the offender.

Mr. Nayak informed reporters that the commission was launched on July 25, 2007, after which 23,000 cases have been filed. Moreover, the commission has filed 5000 cases on the basis of human rights stories reported by the media. Of these, 12,000 cases have been decided at the state level, he said. In Dakshina Kannada, 1000 cases have been registered and 450 of them have been solved, he added.

The state government has given 4,500sq.ft. land for the construction of an office for the commission under 3 different schemes. When Nayak took charge of the commission, the present CM of Karnataka was the deputy chief minister. Nayak had urged him to provide branches for the commission because all the cases could not be solved in the Bangalore head office owing to various issues such as lack of space. He had also demanded adequate staff and funds for the construction of an office, but nothing was done.

Although the commission requires 491 employees, the government has sanction only 105 employees. The commission has not been able to fill all those posts owing to lack of space. Only 76 posts have been filled, and some of them are forced to work in the corridor, he informed.

Since the government has separated the investigation division from the HRC, people feel that filing cases in HRC is a waste of time, he said.

Mr. Nayak also urged for the strengthening of the anti deflection law.