Kerala HC moved to reconstitute Human Rights Commission

Kochi, Oct 30 (UNI) The Kerala High Court was today moved to direct the State Government to re-constitute the State Human Rights Commission with only ''eligible members'' and those having experience in the field of human rights by substituting the existing members other than the chairman.

The petition has been filed by human rights activist Madhu S Nair, challenging the continuance of Justice V P Mohan Kumar and Justice A Lakshmikutty as the members of the Human Rights Commission.

It will come up before a division bench consisting of Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice P R Raman tomorrow.

According to the petitioner, Justce Lakshmikutty was appointed as a member of the Commission at a time when the appointment of the other members, including the then chairperson Mohan Kumar, was challenged before the High Court.

The petitioner contended that the continuance of Justice Mohan Kumar and Justice Lakshmikutty as members of the Commission was illegal as their appointment was in violation of section 21 of the Human Rights Act, which contemplates only four members in the State Human Rights Commission.

UNI XR ARC1904