New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought
a response from the Centre on a petition seeking appointment
of a chairperson to National Human Rights Commission, a post
which has remained vacant after the incumbent Justice Rajendra
Babu retired in May 2009.
A bench headed by Justice S H Kapadia issued the
notice to the Centre on the PIL filed by the Peoples Union for
Civil Liberties (PUCL) which alleged non-appointment of the
chairperson was affecting the functioning of NHRC and
interests of the general public.
According to counsel Ashok Bhan and Ashish Bhan
appearing for PUCL, the "inaction" of the government in not
filling up the post was violative of Article 14 (equality
befor law) and had a bearing on the country`s rule of law.
Under the NHRC Act, only a person who has been a Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court can be appointed as chairman of
the national human rights forum.
Bureau Report
