Fill vacancies in state women commission: SC to UP govt

The Supreme Court on Monday took strong exception to the Uttar Pradesh government's failure to appoint chairperson and vice-chairperson of the state's women commission, which has been asked to look into the deplorable living conditions for the widows residing in Vrindavan.

The Supreme Court on Monday took strong exception to the Uttar Pradesh government's failure to appoint chairperson and vice-chairperson of the state's women commission, which has been asked to look into the deplorable living conditions for the widows residing in Vrindavan.

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"You don't care about women in Uttar Pradesh. They are not a priority for you," a bench of Justice DK Jain and Justice Madan B Lokur told the counsel appearing for the state panel.

Taking note of the commission's advocate filed in compliance of an earlier order, the court observed: "What is this? You don't have a chairperson or a vice-chairperson. How are you functioning?" The comments were made while the bench was hearing a public interest litigation highlighting the inhuman conditions in which the widows live in Vrindavan.

"By when would the commission be fully constituted?" the bench asked the counsel. On not receiving a convincing reply, the court sought an affidavit from the women's panel on when would the vacant posts be filled. It fixed September 19 to hear the matter further.

On its part, the commission has engaged itself with PSUs to explore the option of extending aid to the widows through their CSR initiatives.