HC tells Maha govt to appoint women's commission members

The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government on Wednesday to fill up the vacancies in the state women's commission, which has been lying defunct since February after the tenure of its members ended. A bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice N M Jamdar also directed the commission's chairperson, whose tenure was extended, to submit names of eligible candidates, saying the court would appoint new members from the list if the government did not.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vihar Durve in 2013, highlighting that the commission has had insufficient staff and poor infrastructure for years. His lawyer, N R Bubna, told the court on Wednesday that the commission is required to have up to six members, besides the chairperson.

Last October, a bench led by Justice A S Oka asked the state to fill up the posts of the chairperson and other members, which were to fall vacant on February 9, Bubna said. The government extended the tenure of Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar but failed to appoint other members, he added. PTI AYA KRK

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