SHILLONG: The second attempt of the state Political Department to find a person to head the Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission has failed even as the Director General of Police (DGP) PJP Hanaman has agreed to become a member of the Commission after his retirement on December 31.
The State Human Rights Commission comprises a Chairperson and two members. Earlier, Additional Deputy Commissioner MB Challam had agreed to join the Commission as a member.
“Hanaman has also accepted the offer of the Government to become a member of the Commission after his retirement from the current post,” an official said on Wednesday.
Initially, the State Government had offered the post to the former Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya T. Meena Kumari. Declining the offer, she later assumed charge as the Chairperson of Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission on November 25. Subsequently, the political department was entrusted with the task of finding a suitable Chairperson.
An official source said on Wednesday that the political department had written to the retired Judge of Supreme Court Dr. Justice M K Sharma requesting him to be the Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission, but in vain as he declined the offer citing other official engagements.
Since the second attempt also failed to pay dividends, the political department has now written to the Law department to pursue the search for a Chairperson to head the human rights panel as the members have already been selected.
After the cabinet on August 13 last year approved the formation of the State Human Rights Commission, the Assembly during the March session this year had tabled the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (Salaries and Allowances and other Terms and Conditions of Service of the Members) Rules, 2014.
