In the event of occurrence, of any vacancy in the Office of the Chairperson of the State human rights Commission, who can authorize one of the members to act as Chairperson?

Option 1 : The Chief Justice of the High Court

The correct answer is 'Chief Justice of the High Court'.

• Under Section 21 of the National Human Rights Protection Act, 1993 provisions for State Human Rights Commissions are mentioned.
• Section 21 clause 2 (a) says that 'a Chairperson who has been a Chief Justice of a High Court'.
• Section 21(2) gives the composition of the State human rights commission, which is as follows-
• The State Commission shall, with effect from such date as the State Government may by notification specify, consist of - 
  • a Chairperson who has been a Chief Justice of a High Court;
  • one Member who is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court or District Judge in the State with a minimum of seven years experience as District Judge;
  • one Member to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights.

Confusion Points

• Please note that The Human Rights Protection Amendment Act, 2019 provided that from now a person who has been a judge of an HC is also made eligible to be appointed as Chairperson of the State Commission.
• Also note that the members are increased from two to three and one of them shall be woman.