NT Reporter
Panaji
The Goa Human Rights Commission said it brought down its pendency of cases during 2025–26, disposing of 165 matters in a year and reducing pending complaints from 81 to 21 by March 2026, according to its annual report.
The report said that as on April 1, 2025, there were 81 pending cases before the Commission. Between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, 105 fresh complaints were registered. During the same period, 165 cases were disposed of.
The Commission said it issued recommendations in 21 cases during the year. It said monetary relief of Rs 10.83 lakh was recommended and paid in five cases. It further said compensation of Rs 54.77 lakh was recommended in three other cases where payments are still pending.
Several cases involved retired government employees whose gratuity or pension-related benefits were allegedly withheld or subject to recoveries. In one case, the Commission said it ordered refund of Rs 6.99 lakh recovered from the gratuity of a retired government primary school teacher. It said pension and gratuity are linked to dignity and livelihood and cannot be deducted due to administrative errors not caused by the employee.
In another case, involving retired employees of the Public Works Department and the Captain of Ports Department, the Commission said excess payments made by departments could not be recovered after retirement. It said it directed refund of recovered amounts with interest if there was delay, citing judicial
precedents.
The Commission also said it intervened in a case from Ponda and directed the Public Works Department to provide a water connection, stating that access to water is a basic human right.
It also said it took suo motu cognisance of a report in ‘The Navhind Times’ on the condition of Dabolim Airport Police Station operating from a temporary structure and directed authorities to provide permanent premises.
The Commission said it also directed removal of the requirement of ‘Samaj Certificates’ from the Goa Online portal for caste certificate applications, stating there was no legal basis under the relevant Act.
