NHRC to Hold Camp Sitting in Bhubaneswar on July 21–22 to Address Human Rights Violations
Bhubaneswar, July 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India will hold a two-day Camp Sitting in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 21st and 22nd July 2025 to address a range of pending cases related to alleged human rights violations in the state.
The hearings, scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM on July 21 at the State Guest House, Unit V, Keshari Nagar, will be led by NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian, along with Members Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, and Priyank Kanoongo.
NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal, Registrar (Law) Joginder Singh, and other senior officers will also participate in the proceedings. The initiative is aimed not only at expediting justice for victims of human rights violations but also at sensitizing state officials to their responsibilities in safeguarding human rights, an official statement said on Saturday.
Key Cases to be Heard
The Commission will hear a range of sensitive and serious cases, including:
- Attacks on journalists, human rights defenders, and their families
- Crimes against women and children, including cases under the POCSO Act
- Deaths due to snake bites and lack of medical support
- Flood-related distress affecting families in Bhadrak, Kendrapada, and other coastal districts
- Human rights violations arising from witchcraft and sorcery accusations
- Trafficking of girl children during the COVID-19 pandemic
The concerned state authorities and complainants have been asked to attend in person to enable immediate deliberations and redressal where possible.
Broader Engagement and Deliberations
In addition to case hearings, the Commission will meet with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and other senior state officials to review broader human rights issues and explore systemic improvements in protection mechanisms.
On July 22, the NHRC will also interact with representatives of civil society organisations, NGOs, and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) to understand their perspectives and experiences. This will be followed by a media briefing to disseminate key outcomes and decisions from the camp sitting.
Continued Efforts Across India
Since 2007, the NHRC has conducted similar camp sittings across several states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat, Assam, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
These sittings aim to bring justice closer to the people and improve government accountability in protecting and promoting human rights.
