Despite letters to CM,posts at state commissions vacant

Over 4,000 cases have been pending with the women’s commission since 2008. Sources say lack of co-ordination between the ruling Congress and NCP has led to the commission — the posts in which are filled through political recommendations — being non-functional.

At present,the only secretary at the women’s commission,Somita Biswas,is running its day-to-day administration. The commission is unable to hear pending cases. Biswas returned to work last month after a six month “child care leave”.

The women’s commission is one of the important statutory bodies which comes directly under the CM and appointments have to be approved by his office. However,with none of the six members appointed,women have to hand over complaints to counselors at the commission’s Bandra office. Counselors try to intervene informally and help the aggrieved women.

On Tuesday,bureaucrat-turned-lawyer Abha Singh wrote to the CM seeking prosecution of those IAS officers and other government officials who have failed to fill up the posts. Ironically,these appointments have to be cleared by the CM. “A reminder is sent to the CM’s office almost every month. However,no decision has been taken so far,” said a senior IAS officer.

State Minister for Women and Child Development Varsha Gaikwad said,“I have spoken to the CM and the posts will be filled soon.”

The Commission for Protection of Child Rights,also under Gaikwad,has five posts lying vacant for the past four years. At present,Ujjwal Uke,principal secretary of women and child development department is handling the charge.

Since February 2012,all four posts at SHRC have been lying vacant. Clerks and peons are running the commission that has as many as 10,000 cases pending. SHRC posts,too,are to be approved by the CM. “At least two retired Chief Justices of High Court have shown interest,but the state government has not cleared their proposal,” said a senior bureaucrat.

In February last year,one of the members,Justice (retired) V G Munshi,retired. Within a week,the chairperson,retired High Court Chief Justice Kshitij Vyas,too,resigned. Another member,T S Singaravel had retired in October 2011.

At least five papers by research officer Dr Jaishree Patil on issues like implementation of Vishaka Guidelines laid down by Supreme Court to deal with sexual harassment of women at workplace,human rights of jail inmates,rehabilitation of commercial sex workers,street children and performance of civic schools are awaiting SHRC approval.

Although the state’s Minorities Commission is functional,posts of vice-chairman and eight members have been lying vacant since 2008. “One member representing the Parsi community and I are handling the commission’s functioning,” said chairperson Munaf Hakim.

At the SC/ST commission,the post of a retired IG Police has been vacant since its inception in 2006. “An economist and an IAS officer’s posts are vacant,too,” said member Justice (retd) C L Thool.