HC said no,but former member is back in NCPCR

The HC had declared that Dixit and Bajaj did not meet the eligibility criteria and on its direction,the government started looking for new members. The ministry,however,was always keen on getting the members back in the commission.

In fact,member of the selection committee —child rights’ activist Padma Seth —had quit the three-member panel then,alleging she was being pressured to accept the names shortlisted by Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Krishna Tirath.

Seth had written to PM Manmohan Singh,asking him to “intervene” and stop the “hurried” proceedings. But the three-member selection committee comprising Krishna Tirath,secretary in the WCD ministry DK Sikri and educationist Shyama Chona gave the go-ahead to five new members,including Dipa Dixit. The other four members are Sukanya Bharatram,Dr. Dinesh Laroia,Dr. Yogesh Dube and Vinod Kumar Tikoo.

Sources said the decision could be challenged in court as the government had assured the HC that only people with commensurate experience,expertise and standing in the field of child rights and child welfare would be appointed.

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Replying to an RTI query the WCD ministry said: “No advertisement was given for the posts. The vacancies have been in public domain since the commission was set up and recommendations/self nominations have been received over time. Some names were added on the basis of internal search.”