As many as 2,205 cases of human rights violations remain unattended and still counting with the posts of Chairperson and both members of Haryana State Human Rights Commission lying vacant, revealed a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
While the post of Chairperson fell vacant in August 2016 following the retirement of Justice Vijender Jain, the two members of the commission — Justice H.S. Bhalla and former IAS J.S. Ahlawat — retired in September last.
Last chairperson
As per the RTI reply, not a single case has been disposed off since September 19 last after the retirement of Justice Bhalla, who was acting as the Chairperson of the commission following the retirement of Mr. Jain.
800 complaints
The commission has received more than 800 complaints of alleged human rights violations during this period of over five months. Besides, 34 posts of administrative staff, including Registrar, Joint Registrar-cum-Joint Secretary, Special Secretary and Under Secretary are also vacant.
‘Weaker sections’
RTI activist and Jan Abhiyan Manch member P.P. Kapoor, who had sought the information regarding the commission’s functioning in his application dated January 12, said the acts of violence against the Dalits, women and weaker sections of the society were on rise in the State and their human rights were being violated, but there was no mechanism in place to hear them.
The Jan Abhiyan Manch member accused the government of making the commission ineffective by not making appointments.
“More than 90 people have died in firing by the Army and police during Jat reservation agitation and clash between the police and the followers of [godman] Rampal and [Dera chief Gurmeet] Ram Rahim in Haryana over the past three years. Hundreds of people suffered on account of arson and loot during the reservation agitation. It has become difficult for these people to seek redressal of their human rights violations with the commission being dysfunctional,” alleged the RTI activist.
‘Annual Budget’
The annual budget for the Commission, set up in September 2012 has been gradually increased from ₹2.5 crore to ₹6.5 crore for the current financial year.
“With the posts of Chairperson and both the members lying vacant, the budget of ₹6.5 crore is going down the drain. I seek immediate intervention by the President and the National Human Rights Commission to ensure smooth functioning of the commission in the State ,” demanded Mr. Kapoor.
