Orissa High Court Adjourns PIL Hearing on Alleged Dysfunction of Human Rights Commission
The Orissa High Court in Cuttack has postponed until next week the hearing of a significant public interest litigation (PIL) that raises serious concerns about the operational status of the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC). The petition alleges that the commission has become virtually non-functional due to critical vacancies in its leadership and administrative positions.
Petition Seeks Urgent Action to Fill Key Positions
Filed on February 18 by high court lawyer and human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das, the PIL requests the court to direct the state government to take immediate action. Specifically, it seeks authorization for the lone existing member of the commission to act as chairperson until a new appointment is formally made. Furthermore, the petition urges the government to expedite the filling of vacancies for both the chairperson and member roles without any unnecessary delay.
Court Proceedings and Government Response
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman presided over the hearing. Advocate-general Pitambar Acharya, appearing via video-conferencing, informed the court that a high-power committee is scheduled to convene. This committee, which includes the chief minister, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and the leader of the opposition, is set to meet on Thursday, March 12, at 6 pm to deliberate on the selection of a new chairperson and a member for the OHRC.
In addition to this update, the advocate-general, through additional government advocate Debashis Tripathy, submitted a 'confidential' note to the court in a sealed cover. Acharya suggested that since steps are being taken, the petition might be disposed of. However, the bench responded cautiously, stating, "Just show us that something has happened, nothing more than that," and subsequently adjourned the hearing to March 18.
Details of Vacancies Highlighted in the Petition
The PIL outlines a concerning scenario of vacancies within the commission. Currently, the OHRC is functioning with only one member, Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra. This situation arose after the tenure of chairperson Justice Satrughna Pujahari and member Asim Amitabh Dash concluded on February 9, 2026.
Beyond the leadership roles, the petition also points to significant gaps in key administrative positions. The secretary of the commission retired on August 31, 2023, and the director of investigation retired on May 31, 2024. Both of these crucial posts remain unfilled, as alleged in the petition, further hampering the commission's ability to operate effectively and fulfill its mandate of protecting human rights in the state.
The adjournment reflects the court's wait-and-see approach, allowing the government time to demonstrate concrete progress in addressing these vacancies. The outcome of the high-power committee meeting and the subsequent court hearing on March 18 will be closely watched by legal experts and human rights advocates across Odisha.
