'DNA' exclusive: Cases piling up as SHRC remains headless

On the one hand, one the most corrupt state, Karnataka’s human rights commission has remained headless for two months since its chairman Justice SR Nayak completed his term on July 25; on the other, despite cases piling up and none being disposed, nothing is being done although there are constitutional measures to address the urgency.

As per the guidelines for the appointment of a chairperson for State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the state’s governor has the powers to appoint such a person in consultation with a committee consisting of the chief minister, speaker of legislative assembly, minister of home department and opposition leader of the legislative assembly.

Although on several occasions, governor HR Bhardwaj has approached the said members, there is a lack of seriousness in taking a step forward to appoint Justice Nayak’s successor.
The commission is also without a secretary, which means even the administrative functions of the commission have become weaker, sources in SHRC said. Secretary of SHRC exercises powers and discharges such functions in a few circumstances as the commission’s chairperson. But since even this post is vacant it is not been possible for the SHRC to dispose any of the complaints.

As the SHRC chairperson has the authority to dispose complaints pertaining to human rights violation registered with SHRC (and the lack of a secretary), the commission is almost defunct as it continues without an authority to dispose the cases to officers concerned.  

Registrar of SHRC, KH Malleshappa, told DNA, “We get at least 500 complaints in a month (July end), but we are not able to dispose them after justice Nayak completed his term.”
Human rights activist Siddalinge Gowda said, “I have filed over 50 cases in the last two months; none of my complaints have been disposed. When I asked about the status update of my complaints, the SHRC officials tell me that since there is no chairperson they cannot dispose the complaints.”

He fears that if this lackadaisical attitude over appointing a chairperson for SHRC continues the people whose human rights have been violated will continue to suffer as the violaters would gain confidence over not being brought to book despite being the perpetrators. “Worse, people would lose confidence in SHRC and stop approaching the commission assuming that it would be a waste of time to even file a complaint,” Gowda said, adding that he has filed a letter of appeal to chief minister Jagadish Shettar to help appoint a chairperson immediately. “But it is not being considered seriously, “ he said.

Deputy Secretary SHRC, FR Sambargi said, it is true that complaints are not being disposed and it is affecting the work. (But) The state government might most likely appoint a new chairperson for SHRC in couple of days.”

SHRC was constituted in Karnataka five years ago to protect the human rights. But just half a decade down the lane, the sheer lack of will to appoint Justice Nayak’s successor speaks volumes about how important the government considers this commission to be.

With the state government yet to appoint a Lokayukta (successor to Justice Shivraj Patil ) and it’s almost a year gone with the quasi judicial body remaining headless, fears now revolve around SHRC following suit.