NHRC to hold open hearing, camp for Bihar-related cases in Patna

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission will be holding open hearing sessions and camps from 21-23 April in Patna for Bihar-related cases, and hear the complaints on the problems and grievances of Scheduled Castes.

NHRC’s chairperson Justice H L Dattu will inaugurate the programme on April 21, and during the three days pending cases on human rights issues would be disposed.

During the open hearing sessions, members Justice Cyriac Joseph, Justice D Murugesan and S C Sinha, will hear petitioners of 67 cases in the presence of the senior officers concerned of the state government.

“These cases pertain to the grievances of Scheduled Castes and other oppressed sections of the society. Public notices were published in the newspapers in Bihar inviting complaints for ‘Open Hearing’,” NHRC said in a statement.

On the second day, the Commission will take up 21 pending cases for hearing in its camp sitting. These cases include, among others, the death of more than 100 people due to cancer in Darbhanga, rehabilitation of rescued bonded labourers, deaths due to electrocution and police encounters and health related matters.

On the concluding day, the Commission will hold a meeting with the representatives of the NGOs, active in the state, on the subject of human rights issues.

Thereafter, the issues emanating out of the two forums as well as in the meeting with the representatives of the NGOs, will be discussed with the senior administrative, police and prison officers of the state government, including the chief secretary, directors general of police, district magistrates and superintendents of police.

Some of the issues to be discussed include vacancies of doctors and para-medical staff in Public Health Centres and Community Health Centres and poor supply of medicines in hospitals, problems related to the implementation of social welfare schemes, MNREGA.

The Commission had sent its teams to East Champaran, Arrah, Jamui and Katihar districts of Bihar to monitor the delivery of some of the flagship social welfare programmes.