Maharashtra Human-Rights Commission wants to keep Mumbai office near CST
What's the story
The Bombay HC has sought a reply from the Maharashtra government after the state human rights commission requested to be permitted to continue operating from its current office near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. But the plea contradicts the Commission's earlier demand, in which it was urging the state government to allocate new office space for work.
Allocation
State govt had allotted 6000 sqft office space to Commission
Earlier, the state government, in compliance with a 2016 court order, had allotted a 6,000 sqft office space to the Commission in the Cuffe Parade area for its operations. However, the Commission claimed that keeping in view the budget allocation they receive from the state, it is not in a position to pay a monthly rent of Rs. 17.4 lakh for the new premises.
Funds
File affidavit on funds allocated to commission: Court tells government
In a hearing conducted on March 15, a bench of Justices Shantanu Kemkar and M S Karnik took a serious note of the submissions made by the Commission. The bench directed the Maharashtra government to file a detailed affidavit in response to the Commission's submission. It also asked the government to provide details of the total funds allocated to the Commission.
Appointments
Government answers court's queries on appointment of staff
The bench has sought information about steps taken to appoint staff members and to regularize appointments of the existing staff members of the Commission. The government has submitted that of the existing 14 employees, five had been regularized by the law department. It also said that the appointments for 15 of the 39 vacancies had already been sanctioned.
Petitions
HRC alleges inadequate funds and infrastructure
Various benches of the HC have been hearing petitions filed in 2013, drawing court's attention to the inadequate funds and infrastructure provided by the government for the Commission. The court in its previous hearing, had observed that despite increasing instances of human rights violations, the government "probably didn't care about the Commission" as it has not even extended basic facilities to them.