The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed its displeasure over vacancies in several posts of statutory bodies that have been tasked with ensuring the welfare of persons with disabilities [Sanjay Verma and Anr v Union of India and Ors]. .A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla said that it failed to appreciate why statutory posts are not being filled up in time. "What is the reluctance? Why aren’t vacancies being filled? How will these bodies functions? All these are statutory organisations, if they are not allowed to run what will happen? We want you to specifically tell us this," ACJ Sanghi said. .The High Court was dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking filling up of such vacancies. Advocate AK Bhardwaj, appearing for the petitioner, told the Court that several important posts like the Chief of Commission of Persons with Disabilities, the Chairperson of Rehabilitation Council of India as well as the Chairperson of the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, were lying vacant for months. .The Bench directed the Central government to file a specific affidavit indicating the dates since which the posts are lying vacant, and the steps being taken to fill them up. The government has also been directed to inform the Court as to how much time it would take to fill up the vacancies. The affidavit has to be filed within a week, and the case will now be considered on May 11.
