Patna, (Bihar Times): A division bench of the Patna high court on Monday asked the Bihar government to constitute the State Human Rights Commission by June 30, 2008.
The order was given by the newly appointed Chief Justice, Mr Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha and Mr Justice K K Mandal on the Public Interest Litigation filed by senior lawyer, Shruti Singh. The latter demanded immediate constitution of the State Human Rights Commission as there is sudden spurt in the case of human rights violation in Bihar. She cited several examples in this regard.
Incidentally, after Uttar Pradesh it is Bihar which witnessed maximum number of custodial death recently. Singh also cited cases of lynching of people in the name of criminals. In one case a chain-snatcher was tied to a motor-cycle and dragged by the police in Bhagalpur. This incident was also captured in camera and the National Human Rights Commission strongly flayed the state government. In spite of this the state police refused to accept that any such thing happened.
The petition further says that in the absence of any state-level panel the victims find it difficult to get their grievances heard.
Now it is up to the law department to constitute such Commission within 40 days. However, at present the law portfolio is in the hand of none else but the chief minister, Nitish Kumar.
