Court: Post women’s commission chief andmembers in 2 months

Madurai: The Madras high court Madurai bench on Wednesday ordered the state government to appoint chairperson and three members to the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women on or before November 17. The division bench of justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan gave this direction on a public interest litigation filed by Karthee of Madurai.

Petitioner's counsel R Alagumani told the court that the post of chairperson has been lying vacant from January 31 last year and the post of members from July. Due to this, complaints relating to women’s protection had been pending with the commission. The government counsel told the court that it had invited applications from June 12 to July 15 to fill the chairperson and members’ posts. Accordingly, 167 applications had been received for the post of chairperson and 226 applications for member post. At present, scrutiny of the applications was taking place and the appointment will be made soon.

The bench said the government issued notification after one-and-a-half years of expiry of tenure of the chairperson. Thus, the government is directed to complete the process and make appointment on or before November 17.