The State Human Rights Commission has ordered action against Thanal Charitable Trust functioning in ward-3 of Vazhayoor grama panchayat, after finding that the institution was operating in violation of legal norms.

Commission Judicial Member K. Baijunath directed the District Police Chief to suspend the trust’s operations within a month if it has not already been shut down.

In his order, Mr. Baijunath said the institution should be permitted to function only after securing all statutory clearances and completing the prescribed legal procedures. He also directed the District Social Justice Officer to initiate appropriate action against the institution.

The Commission issued the order after examining reports submitted by the Vazhayoor grama panchayat and the station house officer of Vazhakkad police station following complaints against the trust.

The inquiry found that both men and women were being housed at the institution without mandatory legal permissions. It was also revealed that the trust did not possess a licence from the Board of Control for Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes to operate an old-age home.

In his report to the Commission, the police officer alleged that a racket was functioning to place financially secure elderly persons without family caretakers in such homes.

The report also alleged that residents were pressured and manipulated into handing over their money and assets and into transferring their properties to the trust after their death.