After three years, rights panel gets chairperson

After a gap of three years, the State Human Rights Commission has got a chairperson. Mrs. Justice (retd.) T. Meenakumari, former Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, will hold the post for five years or till she attains the age of 70, according to a notification issued by Public Secretary Jatindra Nath Swain on Saturday.

Governor K. Rosaiah made the appointment, after the selection committee was said to have met last week and made its recommendation.

The post has been lying vacant since August 2011, when Mr. Justice (retd.) A.S. Venkatachalamoorthy laid down the office at the end of his five-year tenure. The Commission has two members: Jayanthi and K. Baskaran. Ms. Jayanthi, a former civil servant, is the acting chairperson. In September last, the Supreme Court asked the State to fill the vacancy expeditiously.

Mrs. Justice Meenakumari was the first Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, holding the post between March23, 2013 and August 3, 2013, when she retired. She also served as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh, Madras and Patna High Courts.

It was in April 1997 that the SHRC was constituted in Tamil Nadu under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.Justice S. Nainar Sundaram was the first Chairperson, who held the post till his death in September 2001. There had been many acting chairpersons before Mr. Justice Venkatachalamoorthyassumed office in August 2006. Under the law, a State Commission should include a Chairperson who has been a Chief Justice of a High Court; one member who is or has been a High Court judge; one member who is or has been a district judge; and two members having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters concerning human rights.

The New Delhi-based World Human Rights Commission and Rescue Centre has welcomed Ms. Justice Meenakumaris appointment.

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After three years, rights panel gets chairperson