Aizawl, Mar 10 (PTI) The Mizoram government is making efforts to fully set up a state human rights commission (SHRC) at the earliest, a minister said on Monday. State Home Minister K Sapdanga informed the assembly that a notification was issued on October 11 last year, announcing the creation of various posts for the human rights panel.

He said that a search committee was formed in November last year to recommend the chairperson and other members of the proposed panel.

Also Read | Indian-Origin Priest Arrested for Sex Assault in Canada: Brampton-Based Ashok Kumar Sexually Assaults Woman During Religious Ceremony, Taken Into Custody by Peel Police.

Securing an appropriate building for the new rights panel is in process and efforts are also on to create a separate head of account to ensure that the human rights commission functions properly, Sapdanga said.

After years of delay, the Gauhati High Court's Aizawl bench, on September 6 last year, gave the Mizoram government a final two-month deadline to set up a state human rights commission and warned that contempt proceedings would be initiated if it fails to do so within the stipulated time.

Also Read | Ladki Bahin Yojana Amount To Be Increased From INR 1,500 to INR 2,100? Never Promised Hike in Payout, Says Ajit Pawar After Presenting Maharashtra Budget 2025-26.

Subsequently, the state government announced the establishment of SHRC in October of that year.

During a hearing on November 27 last year, government advocate H. Lalmalsawmi informed the division bench of Justice Nelson Sailo and Justice Marli Vankung that the state government has complied with the court's directive by forming the human rights panel under the provisions of section 21(4) & (1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 with its headquarters in Aizawl on October 11, 2024.

She had told the court about the creation of 16 posts, including a chairperson and two members for the new establishment.

Acknowledging the positive steps taken by the state government, the division bench directed it to take further steps to establish the human rights panel by appointing suitable persons as its chairperson and members.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)