Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 8: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today issued notice to State Government and sought response about the steps taken so far for appointment of Chairman and it members in State Human Rights Commission.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice N P Vasanthakumar and Justice Hasnain Masoodi in a PIL filed by J&K Peoples Forum (NGO) through its General Secretary M M Shuja issued notice to Secretary Law & Parliamentary Affairs Department and directed him to file the response by or before September 15.
It has been stated before the court that the Commission is totally defunct since from June 2014 and Government till date has not taken any steps for appointment of any chairperson for the Commission which compelled the petitioner Forum to know the doors of the court.
“There is neither any chairperson nor any member at present in the Commission excepting the supporting staff comprising of Secretary, one Inspector General of Police who cannot deal with any case”, says the petition of forum adding “as such the non-seriousness of the state Government has forced them to invoke the jurisdiction of this court “.
The tenure of last chairperson of the Commission, Justice (rtd) Syed Bashir-ud-Din, expired, thereafter no steps were taken for appointment of next chairperson for smooth functioning of the Commission by the Government as reportedly there are more than 2000 cases pending disposal at present before the Commission.
Petitioner forum seeks direction from the court upon the Government for taking immediate and effective steps for making the appointment of chairperson and four members of the Commission.
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