KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The Government has rendered State Human Rights Commission in Jammu and Kashmir as a redundant body as from past one year, the Commission is without members and Chairman. The Commission employees have decided to take to streets and stage a protest against the incumbent government for rendering the Commission functionless at a time when 1957 cases relating to rights violations are pending in the Commission.
“No activity is going on in the Commission. It has become functionless after its acting chairperson Rafiq Fida retired in June 2014. The petitioners are aghast over the government’s non-seriousness attitude. The Commission does only one job and that is to extend the dates of the cases,” an employee of the Commission told CNS.
“I have been coming here from past year. Every time I return with grim face as the case never gets listed for hearing,” a resident from Dardpora Kupwara said.
“Rafiq Fida demitted office in June 2014 after completion of his term. All the work at the commission including allotment of cases and routine administration has come to a standstill as the State government is yet to nominate his successor,” the employees said.
“1957 cases are pending in the Commission. It is ironical why the Government has delayed appointment of a new chairperson,” they said adding that even the Commission has been deprived of its four members.
“We recently met Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister and appealed him to designate any Secretary as Under Secretary so that he will be in a position to take the cases forward and consult authorities as per the demand,” an employee of the Commission said adding that they have decided to protest against government apathy after Eid-Ul-Fitr.
According to the Rule-3 sub-section 4 of the Constitution of the Commission, its chairperson shall be appointed by the Governor by warrant under his hand and seal.
However, the Constitution provides that every appointment under this sub-section shall be made after obtaining the recommendation of a committee comprising the Chief Minister as chairperson, besides speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Chairman of the Legislative Council, Minister in-charge of the Home Department in the State, Leaders of opposition in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council as members respectively.
The Constitution provides that no sitting judge of the High Court or sitting district judge shall be appointed except after consultation with the Chief Judge of the Court.
