SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission is unlikely to be formed before Christmas though the State Cabinet had given its nod to the constitution of the Commission in August this year.
It was on August 13 that the State Cabinet had decided to form the Commission as per rules enacted by the Parliament and also as per the requirements of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 and the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006, which stipulate that State Governments should have their own Human Rights Commissions.
An official from the Political Affairs department, on Friday, said that the Government is examining the framework of Human Rights Commissions in other states to borrow ideas so that they can be incorporated in the proposed Meghalaya Human Rights Commission.
“We will also have to determine the quantum of payment to be made to the Chairperson and members of the Commission,” the official added.
The Chairperson of the Commission will be either a retired Judge or a sitting Judge, if he/ she is free to take up the post.
The official also added that it will take some more time before notifying the State Human Rights Commission and the formation is unlikely this year.
In the absence of State Human Rights Commission, there is no forum at present to address issues related to human rights violations in the State.