Imphal: Manipur government on Monday appointed Utpalendu Bikas Saha, a retired judge of the Tripura High Court, as chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC). The government also announced the appointment of advocate Kangjam Khagendra Singh as a member.
“By VIRTUE of the power vested in me by Sub-section (1) of Section 22 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (Central Act No. 10 of 1994), I, La. Ganesan, Governor of Manipur, do hereby appoint Shri Utpalendu Bikas Saha, Judge (Retd.), High Court of Tripura, to be the Chairperson {under Section 21(2)(a)} of the Manipur Human Rights Commission with effect from the date he assumes charge of office”, a notification issued by the Manipur governor said.
In a separate statement, the governor also appointed Kangjam Khagendra Singh as a member of the State Rights body.
The warrant of appointment was given on the recommendation of the Committee under the proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 22 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (No. 10 of 1994).
“By virtue of the power vested in me by Sub-section (1) of Section 22 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (Central Act No. 10 of 1994), I do hereby appoint Kangjam Khangendra to be a member of the MHRC with effect from the date he assumes charge of office,” a separate notification issued by the Law Commissioner in the name of the governor in a notification issued on Friday said.
The MHRC has been non-functional since September, following the retirement of Khaidem Mani from the post of acting chairman of the commission after a four-year stint. Mani took charge of the post on August 30, 2018 and retired on August 31, 2022.
Following a directive from the Manipur High Court on December 15, last year, the Manipur government formed a committee in January this year to appoint the chairperson and members of the MHRC. With agency inputs
