New Delhi, 2nd September, 2016
A high level delegation of the National Human Rights Commission led by Chairperson, Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu and comprising Members, Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Mr. S.C. Sinha and senior officers will be holding a two day 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' of the Commission on the matters related to Jharkhand at Judicial Academy, Ranchi from 7th-8th September, 2016.
On the first day after the inauguration of the Open Hearing by the NHRC Chairperson at 10.00AM on the 7th September, 2016, the Commission will hear 69 cases. These relate to the grievances and complaints related to either due to atrocity committed by a public servant or his negligence in preventing atrocity against persons of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the problems they face in seeking justice from Government agencies.
The cases include 51 fresh complaints, received in response to the publication of Commission's notice in the national and local newspapers. In addition, 18 cases are those which were already registered in the Commission on the problems related to the SC and ST Communities in the State.
On the second day i.e. 8th September, 2016, the Commission will take up 27 pending cases in the Camp Sitting at the same venue from 10.00 AM to 12.00 PM. These matters relate to the deaths in police action and in custody.
The senior officers of the State Government have been asked to remain present at the time of hearing of the cases in the Open Hearing as well as the Camp Sitting.
In the afternoon, the Commission, at the same venue, will hold a meeting with NGOs from 12.30 to 01.30 PM.
Thereafter, the Commission will meet with the Chief Secretary, DGP, DMs, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers of the State at Project Bhawan, Secretariat, Ranchi from 3.00 to 4.30 P.M.
The following issues are also likely to be taken up during discussion with senior officers of the State Government:
¢ Atrocities on Scheduled Castes and other depressed sections of society, including the incidents of alleged rape of two primitive tribe girls aged 15 & 16 years, resident of Village Madwadih, Tikahara Panchayat, Block Gomiya, District Bokaro, Jharkhand, issue of inclusion of Ghatwal-Ghatwar tribes as Scheduled Tribes in the State of Jharkhand, land related issues, denial of old age pension etc.

¢ Child labour in illegal coal mining.

¢ Death of Twelve Maoists including four minors in an encounter took place between the combined team of the District Police Palamu and the COBRA Battalion of CRPF in Bakoria Village, Palamu District in the wee hours of 9.6.2015.

¢ Silicosis; Payment of compensation to the NoK of deceased persons, medical treatment and Rehabilitation of victims, besides facilities for preventive health care.

¢ High fluoride level in underground water, maiming and killing of people in Garhwa District

¢ Implementation of the various welfare schemes e.g. Indira Awas Yojna, Mid Day Meal, NRHM, ICDS, SSA, PDS, MGNREGA etc. Non-receipt of action taken reports from authorities on observations made by the Team of the Commission during its visit to Gumla and Simdega districts. The matter will also be taken up during sitting of the Commission.

¢ Health; Vacancies of doctors and para medical staff in PHCs, CHCs and irregular/inadequate supply of medicines in hospitals/PHCs. Infrastructure such as x-ray equipment, lab facilities and preventive health checkup..

¢ Public Distribution System.

¢ Irregular payment of remuneration to Aanganwadi workers.

¢ Shortage of teachers in government schools. Vacancies not being filled up, school buildings, study material for poor students.

¢ Irregularity in Indira Awas Yojana; Delay in receipt of grants and priority list being ignored.

¢ Delay in submission of compliance reports including inquest, PMR and MER in cases of encounters and custodial deaths

¢ Timely submission of legible copies of reports by authorities.

¢ Jail reforms.

¢ Condition of juvenile homes.

¢ Timely submission of response to the show cause notices and timely submission of compliance reports in all cases, where the Commission makes a recommendation for payment of monetary relief.

After the meeting on the 8th September, 2016, the NHRC Chairperson and Members would brief the media about the outcome of the Open Hearing and Camp Sitting from 4.30 PM onwards at Project Bhawan, Secretariat, Ranchi.
The National Human Rights Commission has been organising Open Hearings in different States with an aim to provide an opportunity to people from SC Communities to hear their in the State as per the recommendations of Mr. K.B. Saxena, IAS retired to whom the Commission had given the responsibility to study their problems.
It has been holding Camp Sittings alongside the Open Hearings to dispose of pending cases concerning one particular State by hearing the senior government officers; sensitize them about the importance of human rights issues and compliance of NHRC recommendations by them; meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people.
Since its inception, the Commission has been actively engaged in protection and promotion of the rights of Scheduled Castes. Apart from taking cognizance suo-motu and on complaints relating to atrocities against Scheduled Castes, the Commission has also engaged key stakeholders on the issue; published booklets; and held training programmes and workshops aimed at sensitizing various stakeholders on the issue so as to eliminate atrocities, discrimination, and any other form of violation of their human rights.
So far, Open Hearings have been held in the States of Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala and at Chandigarh for the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh. The Commission also held an Open Hearing in its office at Manav Adhikar Bhawan, New Delhi to hear complaints received from Meerut region of Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the Commission also organized one Regional Public Hearing on Right to Health Care in collaboration with the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) at Mumbai on 6th-7th January, 2016 for the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa and Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
The NHRC has organised its Camp Sittings in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bengaluru (for four southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu), Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, Assam, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh (for the States of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh) and Hyderabad for the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

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