HC directs TN Govt to appoint Chairperson for SHRC

Disposing of a petition, a Division Bench, comprising, Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam, directed the government to appoint the Chairperson preferably within three months.

Petitioner T Sundaravadanam submitted that for the past one year the commission had no chairperson and members in the capacity of retired high court chief justice or judge respectively after the incumbent retired in August 2011.

He further prayed that the court direct the authorities to take necessary steps for filling the vacancies within a stipulated time.

The bench said, "Without going into the question as to whether a member of the Commission, who admittedly is not a retired Chief Justice and can act as a chairperson, we direct the government to appoint the chairperson as expeditiously as possible and preferably within three months."