KHRC warns officials against ignoring its notices

Bangalore, Dec 4 (UNI) Karnataka State Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice S R Nayak today warned the officials, who fail to respond to the notices issued by it for reported violations of human rights, of issuing arrest warrants against them.

Addressing newspersons here, he said the officials concerned have sought more time to respond to the Commission's notices in several cases. ''The commission has obliged, but the officers concerned have failed to respond and notices will be served to appear before it personally,'' he added.

Mr Justice Nayak said the Commission, which had registered cases pertaining to the suicide of two students of the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, had served notice to the authorities concerned, but the officials have sought more time to respond. ''The commission will not hesitate to issue arrest warrants if the officials continued to dodge the commission,'' he warned.

He said the commission had registered as many as 512 cases since its formation in 2006 and had disposed off over 250 cases.

The commission was awaiting response from the officials of different departments in over 259 cases.

Mr Justice Nayak said the commission, while discharging its duties, had also taken the initiative to spread the message of human rights and conducted a workshop in Mysore. ''There is a need to sensitise the people on the issue of human rights and its practice,'' he added.

The commission proposed to organise a workshop in Mangalore this month and in Davanagere next month.

UNI