J&K State Human Rights Commission among 6 commissions to be wound up

Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) among six other important government commissions have been winded up by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, according to the official orders issued by state’s General Administration Department on Wednesday.

The six other state commissions to be closed by the end of this month are State Information Commission (SIC), State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC), State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights (SCPWCR), State Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPwD), and State Accountability Commission (SAC).

The commissions will cease to exist from October 31, 2019, which is the appointed date for the formation of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.

“Consequent upon repeal of the acts related to these commissions by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, sanction is hereby accorded to the winding up of these commissions, with effect from October 31, 2019,” said the official order issued by GAD.

The term of all the officeholders of the commission, including chairpersons, presidents and members of these commissions will also end on October 31. According to the order, the Chairperson and Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission shall cease to hold office from 31st October.

“All the staff posted in the Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission drawn from various Departments shall report to the concerned Administrative Departments by 30.10.2019,” according to the order.

The vehicles allotted to or purchased for SHRC will be handed over to the Director, State Motor Garages Department, according to the order. Building(s) housing the commission along with furniture and electronic gadgets shall be handed over to the Director Estates, J&K Government, according to the order.

Also, as per the order, all records of SHRC shall be transferred to the Department of Law, Justice Parliamentary Affairs for record.

The jurisdiction of the central body of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will extend to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from October 31. NHRC had partial jurisdiction in J&K before the re-organization of the state on August 5.