The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) received a total of 8,558 petitions, out of which 2,679 were dismissed ‘in limine’ and the balance 5,879 cases were entertained for inquiry during the year 2016-17. A total of 2,368 cases were disposed of during the year and 14,423 cases were still pending by the end of the year.
These were revealed in the OHRC’s annual report placed in the State Assembly.
According to reports, highest number of 3,059 complaints related to labour followed by 2,350 cases related to police and paramilitary force and 1,840 cases related to women were received during the year. The other complaints included children (24), health (18), jail (31), Minorties ST/SC (18), physically-handicapped (12), pollution (31), religion/community (16), service matter (160) and miscellaneous (999).
A total of 10,912 cases were pending for disposal from the previous year, 2015-16.
Under the RTI Act, the commission received a total of 104 applications and disposed of 56 cases in one month time and 44 cases beyond one month. Two cases were transferred to other departments.
Regarding staff position, the report revealed that as many as 21 posts, including Chairperson and Registrar’s posts, were lying vacant against total sanctioned strength of 69.
The State Government had provided Rs 2,52,43,000 in the State Budget to meet the expenditure of the commission. Out of this, a total of Rs 2,35,73,000 had been spent and the balance Rs 16,70,000 were surrendered.