Fix outer limit to appoint Chairperson of State SC/ST Commission: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the State government to fix an outer limit within which it has to appoint the Chairperson of the State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission (SC/ST Commission).."State must make a statement on next date about outer limit within which appointment of Chairperson to the SC/ST Commission will be made", said a Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty..If there are vacancies in the SC/ST Commission, a statement regarding filling up of those vacancies shall also be made on the next date, it was further directed. .With regard to the vacancies of judges in Special Courts under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 [SC/ST Act], the Bench was assured by the Registrar General (Judicial) that such posts would be filled up shortly after the State government issues orders of promotion to senior civil judges..In one of the earlier hearings, the Court had directed the RG to file a report highlighting the vacancies in the cadre of district judges and the steps taken to fill the same in Special Courts under the SC/ST Act, among other aspects. .When the matter was taken up for hearing today, Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari apprised the Bench that the State had not reported compliance with regard to the earlier court order. .The Additional Advocate General intimated the Court that fresh charts on the details of cases registered in Karnataka under the SC/ST Act would be furnished later in the day..These directions were passed by the Bench in a plea seeking the proper implementation of various provisions of the SC/ST Act and its Rules..SC/ST Act: Karnataka HC flags infrequent committee meetings, inadequate information; Orders State to furnish data on pending cases.During the previous hearing, the Court had ordered the State government to furnish details about the pending cases registered in Karnataka under the SC/ST Act..The Bench had also sought data on the number of cases registered under the Act which had resulted in acquittal/discharge/conviction. While doing so, it remarked that there was serious laxity when it came to holding meetings of various committees under the SC/ST Act and Rules..The matter will be next heard on December 8.