Complaints against civic bodies on a rise with SHRC

Most of the complaints sought basic facilities

Complaints against civic bodies for failing to provide basic facilties are on a rise with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), said Meera C Saxena, Chairperson of the commission, here, on Tuesday.

To a question, she said, even though 50 per cent of the complaints with the SHRC were against the Police department, the growing number of complaints against civic bodies indicate awareness regarding basic facilities among the people, she said.

The complaints include, failure of civic bodies in providing adequate drainage facilities, streetlights, etc. General interest complaints such as pollution of water bodies by municipalities or industries are also being filed with the SHRC, she said.

Speaking on the number of complaints registered in Mysuru district, she said, about 3,000 cases have been filed since 2007. Of them, 1,990 cases have been disposed, while 965 are pending.

She said, the SHRC was computerising details on various cases. It is an ongoing process and will be completed soon, she added.

Complaints

At the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Meera Saxena received 18 complaints. She said, of the complaints received, a few are pending ones, while a few are not maintainable by the SHRC.
She said, the commission did not have jurisdiction over civil cases, family disputes and criminal cases, as there were separate courts to handle them.

Lingaiah, 87-year old, complained that despite a Central government order regarding equal pension for freedom fighters, he was receiving only Rs 3,000 per month, as against Rs 8,000. Saxena said, the issue would be sorted out shortly with the Finance department and assured that Lingaiah would receive Rs 8,000 as pension.

A woman from H D Kote, employed at a private hospital in the city, complained that her six-acre land has been encroached by a few persons. She said, she was afraid of filing a complaint with the police, as the encroachers were powerful and well-connected.
Saxena instructed officials to provide police protection to the complainant and to warn the alleged encroachers from threatening the complainant.