A retired chief justice's name has been forwarded to the Governor for approval for appointment as the Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission, the state government told the high court today.
Advocate General Kamal Trivedi submitted before a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi that the government will fill up the post, lying vacant since October 15, 2015, as soon as it gets the Governor's nod.
The process to fill up the vacant post has been expedited and is likely to be completed soon, Trivedi said.
He, however did not reveal the name of the former chief justice who has been recommended by the government for the post nor did he give estimated time-frame on his appointment.
Trivedi made his submission in connection with a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Chandravadan Dhruv questioning the state government's delay in appointing the SHRC chief.
The post was earlier held by Justice J N Bhatt who retired after turning 70.
The government had earlier told the court that several retired chief justices have been approached but none expressed interest so far, which is why the post has remained vacant. Only a retired chief justice can become the chairman of SHRC.
Dhruv has questioned the government's intention to keep the post of chairman of SHRC vacant and asked the respondents, including the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), to make the appointment to the post "on urgent basis in larger public interest.
