Mumbai HC issues order for filling up vacant posts with Human Rights Commission

Success of petition by Advocate Prakash Salsingikar, member of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad (HVP)

Mumbai : In 2012, post of President and a judicial member was lying vacant with Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission. Human Rights Commission is an important forum for imparting justice to citizens. It receives thousands of complaints from all over the State; therefore, personnel not available for doing justice to citizens is a serious matter and advocate Prakash Salsingikar had filed a PIL through Hindu Vidhidnya Parishada; hearing on which was held during January and February 2016. It was pleaded by HVP’s advocates and as its outcome, the Government filled up the post of President in the year 2012; but post of one judicial member was lying vacant till 2016. HVP brought it to the notice of High Court. Bench of High Court comprising of Justice Kanade and Justice Mohite-Dere took a serious note of the same and issued order to the State Government for filling up the vacant post immediately.

Information obtained by advocate Prakash Salsingikar under RTI Act about the pathetic condition of Human Rights Commission

1. There were 20193 petitions pending with the Commission as on 31.12.2015

2. In the years 2014 and 2015, 5500 petitions were filed on an average, with the Commission. In such situation, the Commission disposed of 542 cases in 2013 (from Sept – Dec. – 4 months); disposed of 2341 cases in the year 2014 and 4070 cases in 2015. It means that the cases disposed by Commission during any year were less than cases filed with it.  It is therefore, necessary to have more number of members; but even vacant posts are not filled up.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat