Bhubaneswar: Disability rights activist Jitendra Biswal has appealed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to facilitate the appointment of a ‘deserving’ person with disability as the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD).
In a letter to the CM, Biswal stated that a request in this regard is pending as the Director of SSEPD is continuing as in-charge of the post of SCPD. The post is still vacant even after 7 months of starting the process to fill it up, his letter read.
“The Director SSEPD functioning as the additional in-charge of SCPD is not only a clear case of conflict of interests but also violates of the recent Supreme Court order that unequivocally directs all states to appoint “independent” State Commissioners for PwDs and not any additional in-charge Commissioner,” Biswal stated.
The SCPD is a quasi-judicial body that people with disabilities approach to complain against the violation of their human and constitutional rights and that often includes complaining against the orders of SSEPD Department also.
Biswal has urged the CM to expedite the appointment of a deserving candidate as SCPD for Odisha.
