Opposition leader seeks Guv's intervention on OHRC member post

Bhubaneswar,Oct 22(UNI) Leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik today urged Orissa Governor M C Bhandare to consider his dissenting note while considering the appointment of a member to the Orissa Human Rights Commission(OHRC).

In a letter to the Governor, copies of which were circulated to the press here, Mr Pattnaik said he has given a dissenting note on the selection of the member to the OHRC after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Orissa Assembly Speaker insisted that the name of senior IAS officer and Development Commissioner R N Bohidar for the post.

The Leader of Opposition said the selection committee meeting was convened today after the retirement of Mr S M Pattnaik,a former Orissa Chief Secretary, as a member of the OHRC to fill up the vacancy under section 22(1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993.

He said in the meeting, the Chief Minister and the Speaker suggested the name of Mr Bohidar, presently holding the post of the Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary.

Mr Pattnaik said he, however, suggested the name of former Chief Secretary Sudhansu Bhusan Mishra, a reputed administrator who had effectively tackled the chaotic situation during the super cyclone.

The Leader of Opposition said Mr Bohidar too is a good man but he was in service and could be accommodated in any future vacancy of the Commission.

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