The number of cases pending with the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) seems to be increasing each year mainly due to a huge number of vacancies.
According to the annual report of the OHRC laid in the State Assembly on Friday, the number of pending cases by 2017-18 year-end was 15,453 against 14,423 by the end of the preceding year, i.e 2016-17. While 5,506 cases were received by the OHRC during 2017-18, 2,196 cases were dismissed in limine, and 3,310 cases were taken up for hearing.
Out of 17,733 pending cases during the year, only 2,280 cases were disposed of.
The cases received during the year include eight relating to children, 20 health-related, 754 labour, 44 relating to Minorities and ST and SC, 1857 pertaining to police and paramilitary forces, 18 pollution-related, 15 relating to religion/community, 280 service matters, 1,495 relating to women and 1,045 other cases.
Out of 69 sanctioned posts in the OHRC, men were in position in 42 posts and the rest 27 were vacant. The vacant posts include the Chairperson, one of the two Member posts and the lone Registrar post.
The report revealed that the commission’s total expenditure during 2017-18 stood at Rs 25,89,296 against Budget Estimate of Rs 30,00,000.