SC asks Centre to fill posts in Safai Karamcharis Commission

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to fill up the two remaining posts in the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) .
It disposed of the contempt plea against the officers after being intimated that the appointment process was "at an advanced stage".
The bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul considered the submission of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is actively considering the issue of remaining vacancies at NCSK.
"Two members and the Chairperson have been appointed in the Commission and for other two positions the same is under active consideration," the Attorney General told the court.

The bench was hearing the contempt plea filed by advocate Radhakanta Tripathy seeking a direction to the government to appoint chairperson, vice-chairperson and other members of NCSK, saying since the commission has been lying defunct since April 1, last year, grievances of the safai karamcharis could not be addressed.
Earlier on November 25 last year, the apex court had asked the Centre to fill up the vacancies in the commission within eight weeks.

The petitioner had approached the apex court contending that though the government had extended the tenure of NCSK for another three years from April 1, 2016, the posts were lying vacant after the retirement of the chairperson and other members on March 31 this year.

"It is highly painful to inform this court that there is none in this commission including the chairperson, vice chairperson and five other members one of whom should be a woman.
"As a result, the aim of the government to eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and uplift the standard of safai karamcharis being a continuing stigma within a fixed time remains in vein," the plea has said.
The petition has also sought a direction to the government to fix a time-frame for filling up the vacancies in the commission.