The Human Rights Day function organised here on Monday by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission — even as the government has failed to appoint a chairperson for it — led to some in the audience pulling up the State for its apathy.
The former Minister B.T. Lalita Naik, who was in the audience, said that celebrating such a function when the commission had remained headless for nearly six months was sad and ironic.
Responding to this, Karnataka State Law Commission Chairperson V.S. Malimath, who was the chief guest, said that he would appeal to the Chief Minister and the Governor to expedite the process for appointment.
The new chairperson should be someone from the State, so that he can relate to the issues being raised by the complainants. He regretted that cases of human rights violations against women, children and the oppressed sections of society were on the rise even as there were bodies appointed to protect them.
Earlier, just after the invocation, Ms. Naik demanded to know why the proceedings began with a religious prayer when they should begin with the rendering of Naadageete (State song) at a gathering of people of all faiths.
