Search on for human rights panel chairperson

SHILLONG: The formation of Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has hit hurdles with the former Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya, Meena Kumari, expressing her inability to hold the post of Chairperson of the Commission offered by the State Government, an official source said.

14 months after the State Cabinet approved the formation of the State Human Rights Commission, the Government is still searching for a suitable candidate to hold the post of Chairperson.

After the Cabinet, on August 13 last year, approved the formation of the State Human Rights Commission the Government had only fixed the salary and allowances of the Chairperson and other members.

In the Assembly session held in March this year, the State Government had tabled the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (Salaries and Allowances and other Terms and Conditions of Service of the Members) Rules, 2014.

In the absence of the State Human Rights Commission, the cases of violations of human rights are on the rise as there is no whistleblower to monitor instances of human rights violations.

The cases of human rights violations are now being probed by the magistrates and several such probe reports which lack in depth, are gathering dust in government departments pending action.

A Chairperson and two members constitute the State Human Rights Commission.

A government official said that while Additional Deputy Commissioner M.B. Challam has agreed to be one of the members of the Commission, the Government will shortly finalize one more member for the Commission.

Moreover, search is also on for the Chairperson of the Commission since (retd) Chief Justice Meena Kumari did not want to hold the post due to her preoccupation with her family.

Several meetings were held in the past to shortlist the names of suitable candidates to head the State Human Rights Commission, but no consensus could be reached on the matter.

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Search on for human rights panel chairperson