The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued a notice to the Post Master General in Kerala over non-functioning of lifts in the General Post Office (GPO) in Thiruvananthapuram, which is causing hardship to employees as well as the general public.

The notice was issued after NHRC took suo motu cognisance of a media report about non-functioning of lifts in GPO for several months.

"Reportedly, the GPO Complex is a seven-storeyed building and there are employees who are physically handicapped and heart patients. A photograph published in the newspaper shows a woman employee being assisted by colleagues to climb the stairs," an NHRC statement said.

"The Commission has observed that the media report and the photograph highlight serious violation of human rights of the employees and the public. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Post Master General, Kerala, calling for a report in the matter within two weeks," it added.

The employees of the GPO are reportedly on strike in protest against the failure of the authorities in getting the lifts repaired.