BENGALURU: THE Karnataka High Court on Monday came down heavily on the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) as none of its authorities, including the chairperson, went to check the violation of human rights due to police excesses in Dharwad district over the Mahadayi protest.
Justice A N Venugopala Gowda said, “The government is spending more on the human rights body than others and has provided suo moto powers to initiate action against erring authorities. But, it has not acted in spirit. The government is really concerned with the issue but not with the authorities.”
“There is inconsistency in action taken as per the report submitted by the Registrar, KSHRC, on August 5 and 8. Till now, none of the officials from KSHRC have visited the villages in Dharwad district,” judge noted.
Expressing displeasure over delay in issue of order for appointing ADGP Kamal Pant to look into police excesses in Yamanur and other villages in Dharawad district, Justice Gowda said that the state should also extend medical assistance to women and children injured due to attack by police, besides ensuring medical assistance to the villagers remanded to judicial custody.
Advocate General Madhusudan R Naik submitted that the Pant has been appointed to investigate the alleged police excesses in Yamanur. He also brought to the notice of the court that ADGP Raghvendra Auradkar (Recruitment and Training) visited Yamanur along with Director of Prosecutions. “A report is also expected from him. The state government is not lagging behind in providing medical assistance to the victims. The reports will be placed before the cabinet meeting to be held on August 10,” he added.