Raipur: The Bhupesh Baghel led Congress government in Chhattisgarh is all set to announce a commission to look into illegal detention of people including tribals in the name of fighting Maoists.
The commission to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, Justice AK Patnaik, will be announced along with a committee which will be drafting a Bill with an aim to strengthen freedom of speech and expression for journalists.
According to the report by an English daily, sources were cited saying that Justice Patnaik had given his in-principle approval for the commission.
“In almost each case, along with some specific persons picked up and charged as Maoists, many unnamed persons, mainly tribals, are picked up and put behind bars for an indefinite time,” said an official as quoted by The Indian Express.
Patnaik retired as a Supreme Court judge in 2014, he became the judge of country’s highest court in 2009. Patnaik has serves as Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court and Chhattisgarh High Court.
The commission of which Justice Aftab Alam, retired judge of Supreme Court could be the head, is said to be assisted by lawyers, police and journalists.
