JK SHRC disposed off 617 cases, received 288 complaints in

The Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has disposed off 617 cases, while receiving 288 fresh complaints in 2016-17.

A copy of the report, tabled by Minister for Law and Justice Abdul Haq Khan in the Legislative Assembly here, said the cases were received by the commission from November 2016 to March 31, 2017, and the disposed off cases belonged to the same period.

"During the current year, 288 complaints were received by the commission, whereas 617 cases were disposed and recommendations were made in seven cases," the SHRC said in its annual report.

It said the commission took within its means all possible effective steps to expedite the disposal of the cases related to various things, including custodial deaths, murder, ex- gratia relief, rape and harassment and disappearance.
 

In continuation to the steps and measures adopted in reaching the far off segments of the society in the state, the report said the commission has kept the Jammu sub-office open and functional round the year.

The report, however, highlighted several problems facing the commission to function smoothly.

"When a complaint is filed before the commission, a notice is sent to the concerned department, but it is very difficult to get even a response from the department. They do not respond unless warrants are issued against the concerned officials," it said.

It said the commission was also working without computerisation and had to maintain the files manually.

The commission said it requested the government to sanction a post of registrar or joint registrar but there has been no response, the report said, adding that it was even difficult to prepare this report in the absence of the trained staff as the staff at the commission has been drawn from various departments and police.

"We want to place on record that much needs to be done so far as other spheres of working of the commission are concerned. First and foremost being that adequate funds under additional budget or revised budget are not allotted which hampers the smooth functioning of the commission," the report said.

It reiterated its request to the government to allot the funds to the commission in the shape of grants instead of normal annual budgetary allotment.