Najma urged to give more shot to MHRC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 19 2020:
The All India Network of NGOs and Individuals working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI), a National forum of individuals and organisations from across the country aimed at monitoring and strengthening the functioning of human rights institutions, has submitted a memorandum to Governor Dr Najma Heptulla expressing concerns over the overall functioning and administrative setup of the Manipur Human Rights Commission.
The memo sought immediate intervention of the Governor to ensure that the posts of Chairperson and Member of MHRC, which have been lying vacant for almost 10 years, are immediately filled through a transparent process and in accordance with the UN Paris Principles.
It continued that the appointing committee of MHRC should take into consideration the contributions to human rights made by each of the eligible candidate for the posts of Chairperson and Member and added that there should be a panel of eligible persons, published in advance and made available for considerations so that the respective merits and demerits of the candidates can be evaluated.
It continued that the non-appointment of required staff in the MHRC has significantly impacted the Commission and its capacities for timely interventions and appealed for the staff to be appointed immediately with the MHRC itself being a party in the decision making.
Appealing for the issues of inadequate infrastructure and financial autonomy of MHRC to be addressed as well, AINNI urged the Governor to ensure that MHRC holds an internal assessment, with the possibility of engaging external experts, on the lines of the report of 'Justice GP Mathur Committee on the functioning of SHRCs' and to present it before the State Assembly for the requirements on staffing, infrastructure and financial autonomy.