Kolhapur: Social activist Pramod Zinjade has urged the state govt to appoint a retired woman judge from either Supreme Court or high court to the post of chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Women and refrain from political appointments.NCP’s Rupali Chakankar resigned last week as the commission’s chief over links to a trust run by Ashok Kharat. Zinjade is known for steering a campaign to ban unfair practices related to widows and working towards making villages caste-free.In a letter to the CM, he said the commission plays an important role in protecting women’s rights and helps them get justice, and its chairperson, therefore, must be unbiased. “The chairperson is usually a woman politician, raising doubts about the commission’s independent functioning and decision-making… A non-political appointment will ensure transparency and trust in the commission as well as effective justice for victims.” —Abhijeet Patil
