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Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Kakru's first task: Learn Telugu

In an attempt to silence detractors who found fault with a non- Telugu being made the chairman of the AP State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC), Justice Nisar Ahmed Kakru announced Friday that he would learn Telugu as soon as possible."I will learn Telugu so that I can directly communicate with complainants. Learning Telugu will help me understand their grievances," Kakru, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, told Express.On December 9, an advocate Satyam Reddy filed a petition in the High Court opposing the move to appoint Justice Kakru as SHRC chairman on the grounds that he does not know the local language. The other reasons he gave was his Z Category police protection and that in his 18 month tenure, Justice Kakru had hardly delivered 12 judgements. The case is still pending in the High Court.But settling down in his new role as the chairman of the APSHRC, Kakru on Friday proceeded to lift all restrictions on the media and public. The move came a day after reports in these columns said that visitors to the SHRC were finding it difficult to even enter the office as Kakru has been provided Z+ security status. "People can come directly and lodge their complaints with the SHRC. There are no restrictions for media and public. We all work together on people's issues," Justice Kakru said.He dismissed as baseless reports that the staff were accepting petitions only written in English. Calling it a deliberate rumour, Kakru said: "We never asked petitioners to write grievances in English. We will receive petitions in Telugu, English or any other language."Meanwhile, the SHRC received as many as 60 petitions Thursday. The staff translated the key points of each petition into English and submitted them to Kakru for further action Friday.The bench comprising Kakru and members Kakamanu Peda Peri Reddy and Miriyala Rama Rao disposed of four out of the 127 cases in the cause list. Kakru also directed the secretary to help petitioners whenever they approach SHRC to lodge complaints.

By Mouli Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com

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