Lucknow, Aug 19 The Allahabad High Court has expressed displeasure over the prolonged delay in filling vacant posts in the Uttar Pradesh Minority Commission, observing that the matter has been pending before it for over one-and-a-half years without the state taking the required action.
The court, however, granted the state government another four weeks to complete the process. The matter will next come up for hearing on September 21, 2026.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Jaspreet Singh passed the order on Tuesday on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Shams Tabrez.
The court noted that the posts in the commission had been lying vacant since June 12, 2024.
During the July 20 hearing, the principal secretary of the Minorities Welfare and Waqf Department had appeared personally before the court.
The bench had then observed that the affidavit filed by the government contained no justification for the delay in making the nominations or appointments.
On July 20, the court had granted four weeks to the state on the assurance of the additional advocate general that necessary action would be taken.
However, during Tuesday's hearing, the state sought further time, submitting that the competent authority wanted all pending applications to be considered together.
The government informed the court that 12 more applications had been received since January 2026, and these would also be considered.
The bench observed that the latest submission appeared to be an attempt to justify the delay despite the assurance given to the court on July 20. It said that the assurance offered by the state was not convincing enough.
Nevertheless, giving the government one more opportunity, the bench directed it to complete the necessary exercise by the next date of hearing.
