HC raps Maha govt over delay in finding space for MSHRC

The Bombay High Court today questioned the Maharashtra government over its delay in finding additional space for the state human rights commission.
A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by social activists Naresh Gosavi and Kailash Sharma related to filling vacancies of members and staff in the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) and providing it with adequate funding to ensure its financial autonomy.
The court today observed that the commission has been functioning in such conditions since it was set up in 2001.
"Why do you (government) have the commission? Scrap it then. It does not have proper amenities," the court said.

The HC was informed by the government that the commission was given the option of two spaces and had found the office space at World Trade Center adequate.
"The file pertaining to this was sent to the finance department which has granted approval," government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani said.
The court directed the government to file an affidavit within two weeks.