Who presides over the committee constituted for the appointment of members of the State Human Rights Commission?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, The Chief Minister. Under Section 22 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the Chairperson and Members of a State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) are appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Chief Minister, with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the State Home Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly as the other members.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) The Governor is the appointing authority who acts on the committee's recommendation — he does not sit on, let alone chair, the recommending committee.  (c) The State Chief Justice plays no role in this recommending committee; consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court applies only when appointing a sitting/retired judge as a Member — a separate provision, not the committee chair.  (d) The Advocate General is the state's chief law officer and has no statutory role in the SHRC appointment process.

Concept: The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 sets up a two-step appointment process for State Human Rights Commissions: a political committee recommends names, and the Governor formally appoints. That committee is chaired by the Chief Minister, mirroring the NHRC's own selection committee, which is chaired by the Prime Minister.

State PCS 2022 Q21 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2022 Q21 — Indian Polity PYQ with Answer