The Supreme Court today issued notice on a PIL seeking filling up of vacant positions in State Human Rights Commissions across the country within a timebound period prescribed by the Court.

The Court called for the authorities' response, after it was informed that most of the State Human Rights Commissions are either lying vacant or non-functional. "Even NHRC website is not updated" the petitioner's counsel told the Court.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was dealing with the PIL filed by Association of Retired judges of Supreme Court and High Courts of India. The petitioner seeks to ensure that State Human Rights Commissions remain fully functional in compliance with Section 21 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and the Supreme Court's directions in DK Basu v. State of West Bengal.

The plea seeks inter-alia directions to the States for filling up vacant posts of Chairpersons and Members within a fixed timeframe. With regard to Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, it states that the Commissions in these states are non-functional. Qua Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya, the petitioner seeks replacement of prolonged Acting Chairperson arrangements with substantive appointments.

The petition also prays for the States to provide SHRCs with the required administrative, investigative and technical staff, including senior government and police personnel. It further seeks publication of annual reports on SHRC websites and in the public domain, alongwith their placement before the respective state legislatures.

The petitioner also seeks to prevent transfer of complaints to SHRCs which lack a functioning Chairperson/Member. It further prays that data be called to find out the current status of cases already transferred to defunct Commissions in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Besides the aforesaid, the petitioner prays for continuous monitoring by the Supreme Court through periodic compliance affidavits/status reports.