Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the state’s Chief Secretary, the Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, and senior IAS officer Kuldeep Ranka regarding the decision to assign him additional charge as Chairman of the Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Justice Sudesh Bansal, presiding over a single bench, passed the order during a preliminary hearing on a petition filed by commission member Sangita Garg. The order, uploaded on Thursday, seeks an explanation from the state government over the legality of appointing a serving IAS officer to the statutory post.
The petitioner’s counsel, Satya Pal Chandolia, argued that the chairperson’s post fell vacant following the resignation of Sangeeta Beniwal, and that the government’s move to give additional charge to an administrative officer could compromise the commission’s independence and statutory functioning.
The court has sought detailed replies from the respondents and listed the matter for further hearing.
