Question

Who is eligible to be the Chairperson of an SHRC?

• A. A retired judge of a High Court
• B. The current Chief Justice of a High Court
• C. A retired judge of the Supreme Court
• D. A senior lawyer with 20 years of experience

Answer 1

Answer:

A. A retired judge of a High Court

State Human Rights Commission 

• State Human Rights Commissions (SHRCs) in India are statutory bodies established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to protect and promote human rights at the state level. They address violations concerning rights to life, liberty, equality, and dignity, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution

Composition

• An SHRC consists of :
  Chairperson: A retired Chief Justice or Judge of a High Court.
  Two Members:
  One serving or retired High Court Judge, or a District Judge with at least seven years of experience.
  One person with knowledge or practical experience in human rights.

• The Chairperson and members are appointed by the Governor based on recommendations from a committee, but can only be removed by the President on grounds like bankruptcy, unsound mind, or proven misbehavior/incapacity (after Supreme Court inquiry)

• States like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Himachal Pradesh do not have active SHRCs.
  

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) handles human rights functions for the Union Territory of Delhi.
  

• The 2019 amendment to the Protection of Human Rights Act reduced the term of office for SHRC members to three years or until age 70, and allowed reappointment without a five-year limit.