Headless human rights' body
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 04, 2023 -

REGARDLESS of the High Court of Manipur asking the state government to either appoint a regular chairman or make interim arrangement within 10 days' time to make the Manipur Human Rights' Commission functional, it is quite possible that the court's directive might not fructify for the said post merits candidate not only possessing unblemished track record but should also be committed and selfless.

Absence of a Commission chairman for the past three months implies that the government authorities which are mandated to ensure continuous operation of the rights' body haven't been according importance on the matter, probably perceiving that due to decline in the insurgency-induced incidents there is no need to rush things.

As such, advocate general Lenin Hijam's admission that no decision has been taken by the state government with regard to making an interim arrangement to fill up the post of chairman, which has been remaining vacant since September last, could be construed as indifferent attitude of the government.

Interestingly, the high court has taken note of newspaper reports regarding non-redressal of complaints related to violation of human rights owing to torpidity of the Commission for the past few months.

The court's observation implies that the government is not unaware about denial of justice to the victim parties but is showing no urgency to address the same.

Thus, it is hard to digest why the state government continues to delay in finalising the right candidate out of the three applicants for the appointment process that simply entails following the prescribed guidelines and choosing on merit basis.

However, it is heartening to learn that in response to the orders passed by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice A Bimol Singh on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking filling up of vacancies in the Commission, advocate general Lenin Hijam revealed about receiving three applications for the chairman's post subsequent to the advertisements published by the state government.

In view of the Commission perennially understaffed and bereft of basic facilities, it is commendable for the three applicants expressing willingness to head the rights body as only those having firm resolve to serve in public interest would come forward to take the job considering the fact that the Commission has always been under intense public scrutiny.

Unlike during the height of insurgency movement when violation of human rights by both state and non-actors cropped up at regular intervals, the task before the Commission at the juncture might not be strenuous as the state has been free from controversial shoot-outs.

Nevertheless, periodical reports of domestic and sexual violence amounting to abuse of basic human rights mean that the Commission must remain fully functional to deliver justice to whoever coming to knock at its door.

With the High Court giving one last opportunity to take measures to ensure that the Commission is made functional by January 23, the government would now be hard-pressed to either appoint a regular Chairman or make interim arrangement for failure to comply with the said directive would definitely lead to posers raised on commitment of the establishment to safeguard constitutional rights of the citizens.