A division bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and K K Tated was hearing a suo motu matter taken up in 2010 after the murder of Pune-based RTI activist Satish Shetty.
In May 2010, the high court, after going through the recommendations made by the amicus curie (appointed to assist the court), laid down certain measures to be undertaken by the government and directed for a committee to be set up to look into the issue.
However, till date the state government has not framed the required guidelines.
"Consider framing comprehensive guidelines for protection of such social activists and whistle-blowers and witnesses in sensitive cases," the high court said today.
The bench directed the additional chief secretary, Home department, to file his reply in a week on this suggestion and also state by when the guidelines will be formed.
According the May 2010 high court order, the state government was directed to set up a special committee to undertake the task of identifying social activists and whistle blowers across the state.
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"These activists shall be identified by a transparent process and guidelines for the determination of the same shall be formed by the committee," the order had said.
It further said that the government shall provide police protection to any identified social activist/ whistle-blower or organisation that complains of threat or having been attacked.
"A database has to be prepared of names of all activists who have in the past complained of threat. This database shall also include names of high risk activists," the order said.