The state human rights commission has written to the state government seeking an autonomous status.
Constituted in July 2006 by the Gujarat government, which was under severe attack for alleged human rights violation in the wake of the post Godhra riots, the state commission, in its maiden report tabled in the state Assembly last week, had sought an autonomous status to perform in a more effective manner.
In the preface of the first report, state human rights commission chairman Daya Saran Sinha has said of the 52 approved strength of staff, so far only 33 recruitments have been made.
Though a number of government officials of the rank of secretary and deputy secretary have been deputed to the commission, there are several key posts lying vacant, affecting the performance of the commission, says the report.
Minister of state for home, Amit Shah, has admitted that there are several posts lying vacant. This has affected the performace of the commission, he told the Assembly.
As per the Human Rights Protection Act (1993) the state level body has powers to utilise grants for the functioning of the commission. However, due to austerity measures of the state government and certain procedural hassles, the commission has to take clearances from the state government.
As a result, the commission cannot enjoy autonomy, says the chairman of the commission. An autonomous status would help resolve these issues, he says.
The state government is considering the request of the commission for granting an autonomous status, said sources. During the first year, the commission received over 600 applications of which 57 are still pending, says the report.
