Silchar, January 16, 2010: Disgruntled members of Manipur Human Rights Commission today announced that they will not take part in the Republic Day celebration this year if government fails to let them know warrant of precedent (protocol) position before the celebration function.

Speaking to media persons at his residence at Yaiskul Chingakha, right member, RK Rajerndra observed that as per warrant of precedent (protocol) published in the gazette of Union government, members of Human Rights Commissions are in the 17th position which is next to the rank of cabinet ministers who are in the 15th position while the Members of Parliament (MPs) are in the 21st position, state chief secretary is in the 23rd position and the Advocate General (AG) is in the 24th position.

State government cannot alter the protocol at its own way.

So, government statement that so far government has not fixed the protocol position of the MHRC members is like giving shame to the members.

There is apprehension that they may be turned out from attending the Republic Day celebration at the state level stating that their status is yet to decide by the government, he went on to observe.

Further speaking to the reporters, Rajendra revealed only Rs.16,000 each per month is being paid by the state government to the Manipur Human Rights Commission members as honorarium while 1,30,000 per month is being paid to each member of Human Rights Commission of other states which is equivalent to the salary of High Court Justice except the state of Assam.

While revealing the eligibility criteria of the chairman and the members of the commission, he stated that under 1993 section (21) and the chairperson must be a retired chief justice of High Court and under section 21(2) B Act and a member must be a retired or the chief justice and must have experience of seven years session justice along with the knowledge and practical experience of human rights commission.

In the absence of the chairperson, any member of the commission can be officiated under section 25 of Human Rights Commission Act.

He also rued that the lack of manpower hampered in the effective functioning of the Commission.

About 120-140 staff is working in a human rights commission in other states but in the case of Manipur only 13 staff is working in MHRC.

Besides, the 13 members of MHRC were from other department.

Owing to the inadequate staff strength in the MHRC, the rules and regulations are framed by the MHRC.

The investigation and the enquiry are being conducted by him, said R.K Rajendra.

Maintaining the requirement of a secretary in the MHRC for enquiry and investigation, R.K Rajendra stated that a secretary is necessary who must be not be below the rank of a deputy inspector general (DIG).

However, the deputy secretary is taking in-charge of the post in his spare time.

While informing atleast a member or two are required for conducting enquiry, he stated that under section 19 of the Human Right Commission, enquiry is to be conducted with a team of police.

He added that the MHRC requires permanent staff for law division, training division, administration division, finance section, research section and also for the core group of health and medical sections.

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