SC seeks govt response for non-appointment of NCSC chairperson

SC seeks govt response for non-appointment of NCSC chairperson

The Supreme Court has sought to know the Centre's response on non-appointment of the Chairperson and other Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).

A Bench comprising Justices D K Jain and H L Dattu asked Attorney General G E Vahanvati to seek instruction from the Centre on the issue within four weeks after a petitioner submitted that the Commission has become non-functional as most of the posts, including that of the Chairperson, are vacant.

The petition, filed by advocate Radhakant Tripathy, said the posts of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other members of the Commission are vacant and government is not serious in filling up these posts.

He argued non-appointment of the office bearers has left justice dispensation mechanism in the Commission non-functional by leaving helpless the "harassed" Scheduled Castes people approach it for redressal of their grievances.

"The non-appointment of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other members in the NCSC has made it non-existent in the eyes of law. The inaction of the government in not appointing the Chairperson and members of the Commission is arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of the Constitution," the petition said.

NCSC is a constitutional body to protect the interests of Scheduled Caste population by suggesting policies to the government in this regard.

Tripathy in his petition alleged that it was for the second time that the posts of Chairperson and members had fallen vacant and the Commission has become non-functional.

Citing an RTI reply by the government in which it was said that there was no stipulated timeframe for appointment of the office bearers of the Commission, the petitioner also sought the court's direction for fixing of a timeframe in this regard.