Order
1. Heard. In this writ petition, filed initially in public interest by a former Judge of the High Court of Calcutta as early as in August 1986, this Court has over the past nearly three decades delivered as many as eight different orders on various aspects touching protection of the human rights of the citizens in this country. These decisions have been reported in law journals from 1997 onwards till 2003, referred to in Para “(I)” of Crl. MP No. 15492 of 2014 filed by the learned Amicus. In the said application the Amicus Curiae has prayed for certain further directions on the subject including directions for establishment of the State Human Rights Commissions in the States/Union Territories, where such Commissions have not already been set up, and filling up of all the vacancies in other States/Union Territories where such Commissions have been set up but for one reason or the other the appointments have not been made. As many as six States/Union Territories have already responded to the application filed by the Amicus including the State of Maharashtra. A large number of States including Union Territories have not however responded to the prayers made in this application so far.
2. We were inclined to conclude these proceedings which have been pending for the past thirty years but for the fact that Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, learned Amicus, submits that some of the prayers made in this application are very essential for an effective enforcement of the directions issued earlier and for prevention of atrocities on the weaker sections of the society especially minorities and Dalits in the country. He submits that on the basis of responses which the States/Union Territories have filed and may file within a time-frame, to be fixed by this Court, the learned Amicus Curiae would identify specific areas/recommendations for the consideration of this Court so that these proceedings can eventually be wound up with appropriate directions in those areas.
3. In the circumstances, therefore, and keeping in view the fact that the case concerns protection of human rights especially of the weaker sections of society, we are inclined to grant one more opportunity to the States/Union Territories which have not responded to the said application with the direction that the States/Union Territories in default shall submit their responses expeditiously but not later than four weeks from today. We make it clear that no further opportunity for the purpose shall be granted. We request Mr Singhvi, learned Amicus Curiae, to collate all the responses in the form of a statement and make specific recommendations for the consideration of this Court by the next date of hearing. These proceedings shall accordingly stand over by a period of two months from today to be listed again on Tuesday, 14-10-2014.
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