OPEN HEARING OF NHRC IN CHENNAI, August 9th, 2012 NEW DELHI BUREAU ANTIMPRAVAKTA More than 1000 complaints involving issues of diverse nature were received by the Commission. Three hundred seventeen (317) cases were found fit for inquiry and taken up for hearing at Chennai on 7 and 8 August, 2012. Notices of these cases had been issued in advance to the State Government and response was invited. One hundred sixty eight (168) cases were taken up in Bench No. 1 presided over by Justice B.C. Patel, and one hundred forty nine (149) cases were taken up in Bench No. 2 presided over by Shri Satyabrata Pal. One hundred and eleven (111) cases were disposed of by Bench no. 1 and forty eight (48) cases were disposed of by Bench No. 2. Thus, a total number of one hundred fifty nine (159) cases were disposed of. . The response of the State Government in cases taken up on 7 August, 2012, was not very satisfactory and in the absence of response, many cases could not be disposed of. The complainants had come from distant places. Therefore, in some cases the State was asked to reimburse the expenses incurred on journey. On 8 August, 2012, the response showed a marked improvement and replies from the State Government were received in almost all the cases. Many complaints related to non issue of caste certificates. In some cases, the State Government issued caste certificates on receiving notice from the Commission and in the other cases it was observed that there was inordinate delay on the part of revenue officials in conducting the inquiry. The Commission emphasized that the inquiry should be expeditiously concluded and caste certificates to the deserving candidates should be speedily issued. The grievance of some complainants was that either they had not been issued Patta or even after issue of Patta the possession of land had not been given to them. The State Governmetn issued patta in some cases after receiving notice from the Commission . Media deptt. Of nhrc told many complaints of land grabbing were made. The Commission directed the concerned authorities to take appropriate action under the SC/ST (POA) Act expeditiously. In one case, it was found that the grave yard of the Scheduled Castes had been encroached upon by upper caste people and the State had not taken appropriate action. The Commission recommended prosecution of encroachers under Section 3(1)(v) of SC/ST Act but also recommended prosecution of the negligent government officer under Section 4 of the Act. In many cases it was found that the police had filed chargesheet after

investigation of cases of atrocity on SCs but the financial assistance prescribed by SC/ST (POA) Rules had not been given. The Commission directed the State Government to disburse the financial assistance within a prescribed time.