The transitional justice bodies closed complaint registration on Wednesday, with over 60,000 cases collected in the last four months.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) now have six months in hand to establish truth, investigate into rights violations and make recommendations for action.

The commissions, however, are yet to receive the complaints sent through snail mail.

“We hope to receive all the complaints sent through post within the next few days,” said TRC Chairman Surya Kiran Gurung. “Then only can we give the exact number of complaints received.”

Though Gurung said the TRC would like to complete its task in six months, the government is yet to start the process of entering into the agendas of the transitional justice process, except Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who assumed office last week, briefing senior bureaucrats on the government’s position on the issue.

Amending the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act as per the Supreme Court order could be the starting point for the government to give an impetus to the transitional justice process.

The transitional justice bodies a year ago had forwarded draft amendments to the government, but no action has been taken so far. Both commissions are under-staffed and have been working on a shoestring, which could be major obstacles for the commissions to finish their tasks in six months.

“We hope the new government will pay heed to our concerns,” said Lokendra Mallick, chairman of the CIEDP, who believes the remaining tasks of the peace process can be completed only after concluding the transitional justice process. “Since we have the warring parties of the conflict period leading the government now, we expect them to be more responsible,” he added.

The transitional justice bodies, which were envisaged in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between the government then rebel Maoists, came into being after nine long years in February 2015. But they started receiving complaints from the conflict victims in mid-April, after 14 months they came into being.

The commissions, which were formed with a two-year mandate, have to complete their tasks by February next year.