Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has directed the state government to fill the vacant posts in the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), taking note of concerns raised by rights activists over the body’s limited functioning.
According to reports, the commission is currently operating with only one member, Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra. The posts of chairperson and another member have remained vacant since February 9 after the tenure of former chairperson Justice Satrughana Pujahari and member Asim Amitabh Dash ended.
A petition filed before the court highlighted that the absence of appointments has effectively left the commission without its leadership, hampering its ability to function efficiently. It also pointed out that a large number of cases remain pending before the commission, making it necessary to fill the vacancies without delay.
Hearing the matter, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M. S. Raman directed the state government to take steps to fill the vacant posts in the commission.
The bench has scheduled the matter for further hearing on March 18.
