States » EastPosted at: Mar 11 2026 3:58PM


Orissa High Court asks Govt to fill up vacancies in human rights panel

Bhubaneswar, Mar 11 (UNI) Taking note of concern voiced by rights activists, the Orissa High Court has directed the State Government to expeditiously fill up the existing vacancies in the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC).
The OHRC is now being run with one Member (Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra) in view of the vacancy arising out of the completion of term of the Chairperson (Justice Satrughana Pujahari) and a Member Asim Amitabh Dash on February 9.
''As a result the functioning of the OHRC has been adversely affected because the remaining/existing Member has not been authorised to act as the Chairperson until the appointment of a new Chairperson to fill such vacancy. Section 25 (1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 mandates: In the event of the occurrence of any vacancy in the Office of the Chairperson by reason of his death, resignation or otherwise , the Governor may, by notification , authorize one of the Members to act as the Chairperson until the appointment of a new Chairperson to fill such vacancy,'' the petitioner Prabir Kumar Das stated.
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