New Delhi, March 21 -- The Delhi High Court on Friday criticised a deputy secretary in the Centre's ministry of minority affairs for adopting a casual approach in filing an affidavit regarding the timeline for filling the posts of chairperson and members of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), but stopped short of summoning the official. A bench of chief justice DK Upadhyaya and justice Tejas Karia however, directed the officer to submit an explanation in two weeks for stating, under the heading "Timeline", that the Centre was taking all necessary steps in accordance with law to fill vacant posts, without specifying any definite time frame. The court noted that on February 6 it had expressed displeasure over the Centre's failure to file a proper affidavit specifying the timeline for filling vacancies in the National Commission for Minorities and had described the affidavit as "bald" and "vague". It had then told Centre to file a more detailed affidavit specifying when the ministry initiated the appointment process, the various stages involved, and extent to which the process has progressed since its initiation. On Friday, the court noted that the affidavit filed on February 25, merely stated that the appointment process had been initiated, biodata were under examination, and further steps were underway. "But see the affidavit filed by the officer. Under timeline, you are saying that the respondent is taking all necessary steps, as per law, to appoint the members and chairperson. we had asked him to file a better affidavit. is it the timeline? Which dictionary defines timeline like this? See how casually the court's order has been taken. The court has been taken for a ride. Who is this officer?" the bench asked Centre's lawyer. During the hearing, the court was also told that the Centre appointed two members to the NCM for a period of three years on March 6. The commission's mandated strength is seven; five posts are currently vacant....