New Delhi: Rajasthan government Friday apprised the Supreme Court that it has appointed Justice Prakash Tatia, former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, as Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission, a post lying vacant since July 2010.
The social justice bench of justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit, which had come down heavily on the state government for not appointing the Chairperson of SHRC for over five years, disposed of the PIL on the issue when it was told that a warrant appointing Justice Tatia as Chairperson has already been issued by the Governor.
The bench, which had warned the state last time with the imposition of heavy cost, today observed in lighter vein: "Had you not done this, the Supreme Court Legal Services Authority would have become richer."
Disposing of the PIL filed by 'Dalit Manvadhikar Kendra Samiti', it also said the Rajasthan SHRC Chairperson would ensure that the vacant posts in the SHRC are filled up.
"We request the Chairperson of Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission to ensure that state government complies with the submissions made before us," it said.
The counsel, appearing for the state government, said the human rights courts, mandated by the statute, have been set up in each district of Rajasthan.
Earlier, the court had slammed the Rajasthan government for not appointing the Chairperson.
"We are distressed to note that the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission has been without the services of the Chairperson since 16th July, 2010, i.E., for the last more than five years. This is totally unacceptable and in a sense subverts the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (for short the Act)," it had said.
