Will publicise details of PCAs at all police stations in state, fill up vacancies: State to HC

This came after the HC had directed the government to take prompt steps to fill up vacancies as the “scarcity is making the function of authorities almost impossible”.

The HC directed the state government to file an affidavit detailing the process adopted by it to appoint eminent persons from civil society as members of PCAs.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif S Doctor was hearing PIL filed by social activist Medha Patkar, argued through advocate Yashodeep Deshmukh, last week. It sought directions to the Maharashtra government to fill up SPCA vacancies as well as releasew funds and necessary facilities adequately and in a time-bound manner.

The state government lawyer stated that after the November 9, 2023 order, members were appointed in six Divisional PCAs. The government also stated that an advertisement had been placed on December 29, 2023 to fill up other vacancies of members in PCAs and instructions in that regard have been issued.

The state also submitted that on December 21, the DGP had issued a circular for publishing the names, addresses and contact numbers of the State and Divisional PCAs in front of every police station in the state.

Deshmukh argued that as per the Supreme Court’s judgement in the Prakash Singh case, the government was required to maintain transparency in the appointment of members of authorities.

The bench then asked the state authorities to file an additional affidavit to keep on record all necessary information collected from all police stations in Maharashtra on steps taken to publicise the PCA’s functions as well as the process followed to appoint eminent persons.

The Court also told the state government to look into the issue of salaries of chairpersons of divisional PCAs and posted the matter for further hearing on February 7.