The SC had issued a notice on the PIL on July 4, 2023. Since then the case has been listed more than 12 times but not been taken up for hearing by the apex court. Finding no other way, Tripathy tried to mention the urgency of the issue. He said the present situation was likely to happen in his application. But the SC Registry again deleted the matter from the May 17 causelist just before the summer vacation. Tripathy, on whose earlier two PILs the Supreme Court notices ensured that NHRC vacancies filled up, said even after a notice from the apex court, the government allowed the NHRC to be headless and four members short of the actual five-member strength. This is the third PIL of Tripathy for filling up of vacancies in the NHRC. Last time he filed the PIL when the NHRC created history by running without a Chairperson or acting Chairperson.Subsequently during the COVID period, the government appointed Justice Arun Mishra as Chairperson.The government also amended the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 to ensure at least one woman member in the NHRC and State Human Rights Commissions.Earlier, on February 27, 2017, a bench headed by the then Chief Justice J S Kheher while hearing the PIL on NHRC vacancies stated, “Mr Tripathy, you helped everybody by filing the PIL. We are grateful to you.” Similarly, a bench headed by former judge Justice L. Nageswar Rao while disposing the PIL on the NHRC vacancies thanked Tripathy.
Source link
