Delay in appointment of chairperson, members of State human rights panel
SHILLONG: Concerned over the delay in appointment of the Chairperson and Members of Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission despite a direction from the Supreme Court, the High Court of Meghalaya has directed Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri to file an affidavit showing the status of processing of the file for the appointment of the Chairperson and other members of the Human Rights Commission on the next date of hearing on December 16.
Taking a suo moto case, the Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice T.N.K. Singh said the apex court in an order dated July 24, 2015 had directed various states including Meghalaya to set up the State Human Rights Commission within six months and to fill up the vacancy of Chairperson and members of the Commission within three months from the date of order.
“As towards compliance of the directions of the apex court, the State of Meghalaya has not initiated the process of appointment of the Chairperson and members of the State Human Rights Commission,” the High Court observed.
The High Court also made it clear that the State government will specify the names of the former Judge of the Supreme Court and former Chief Justice of the High Court who have been offered the post of Chairperson.
“The State shall also clearly indicate as to who are the Judges of High Court and other non-Judicial persons who have been offered the appointment as the Chairperson/members of the Commission,” the Court said.
According to the Court, this information is required to maintain transparency in the process of appointment in the posts.
The High Court has also appointed senior counsel Aman Sinha and counsel Shatrughan Upadhyay as Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) in this regard and added that the Registrar General will settle their professional fee which will be paid by the Department of Law, Government of Meghalaya.