KOZHIKODE: The functioning of various commissions in the state has been hit by the restrictions imposed by the finance department on the members’ travel expenses. This has put a huge burden on them, including the chief, as they have to pay from their pockets for their expenses. Mr P. Mohan Das, acting chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission, said here on Friday that though the previous UDF government had introduced the curbs, the present government was continuing them. Action would be initiated against the finance department secretary for this, he added. The members of other bodies, including the Child Rights Commission, supported the statement of Mr Mohandas.
“The commission chairperson enjoys the privilege of a High Court judge. For travelling across the state, we are allowed 200 litres of petrol per month, which is insufficient. The commission chief is not expected to sit in his office in Thiruvananthapuram and not travel to meet the victims of various offences in distant places,” said Mr Mohan Das. “The commission needs more than 300 litres of petrol per month for its travel. The finance department cannot curtail the rules stipulated by Parliament citing financial constraints,” he said.
