NEW DELHI: NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC on Friday pulled up the Central government for failing to provide a timeline for filling up the vacant posts of chairperson and members in the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and for taking the “court for a ride.”
A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked the deputy secretary in the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs to explain the lapse within two weeks, after noting that the fresh affidavit filed by the government failed to describe the timeline despite previous directions.
“We fail to appreciate how the averments in the affidavit describe or throw any light on the timeline that will be followed for ensuring the appointment of the chairperson and other members of the commission. See how casually the court order has been taken. The court has been taken for a ride. Who is this officer?... See the affidavit filed by the officer. We need to summon him and ask him what the expression ‘timeline’ means... Better you summon him in your chambers,” the bench told the Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, who was representing the government.
The judge made the remarks while observing that the affidavit only stated that the ministry had initiated the necessary action for appointment to the vacant posts and that biodata and nominations from various sources were under examination. The affidavit stated that the proposals were being examined and the matter was “under active consideration of the competent authority.”
The HC had on February 6 asked the government to file a “better affidavit” on the issue, terming the one then filed by the panel “absolutely vague.”
The bench had then noted that the affidavit filed by the under-secretary of Ministry of Minority Affairs did not say when the ministry initiated the process of appointment, details of the process, and, after initiation of the said process, to what extent it has progressed. It had directed the government to file a fresh affidavit. In January, too, the court had expressed concern on the vacancies in the NCM.