NHRC to hear 150 cases at Kolkata open session

The National Human Rights Council (NHRC) will hear around 150 cases at the open hearing in Kolkata being held at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences on December 13 and 14.

On December 13, a total of 140 cases would be addressed by three different benches of the human rights watchdogs. Former Chief Justice of India and NHRC chairperson H L Dattu will hear 48 cases, former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose will hear 54 cases and Advocate Jyotika Kalra will hear 38 cases.

On December 14, the full commission comprising all three members will hear ten most important cases at the same venue. The NHRC has decided to list 46 cases filed by the noted social activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy.

The council has also issued notices to the Chief Secretary and other senior bureaucrats of West Bengal, calling for their personal appearance with reports to be submitted before the camp sitting

The NHRC has listed all the cases after issuing notices to the state authorities and has sought their response on various issues covering benefits of social welfare schemes, primary health, education, road and communication in rural areas, rights of vulnerable segment of society, sexual abuse, electrocution, manhole deaths and other basic human rights of the residents from various corners of the state.

A statement by the NHRC said that the open hearing is being held to consider the pending cases and to discuss important human rights issues, pertaining to the state, followed by meetings with the NGOs and the Chief Secretary, DGP and senior civil and police officers of the state.