Section 21: Constitution of State Human Rights Commissions.

(1) A State Government may constitute a body to be known as the..................(name of the State) Human Rights Commission to exercise the powers conferred upon, and to perform the functions assigned to, a State Commission under this Chapter. 1[(2) The State Commission shall, with effect from such date as the State Government may by notification specify, consist of—

(a) a Chairperson who has been a Chief Justice or a Judge of a High Court;

(b) one Member who is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court or District Judge in the State with a minimum of seven years experience as District Judge;

(c) one Member to be appointed from among persons having knowledge of or practical experience in matters relating to human rights.]

(3) There shall be a Secretary who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the State Commission and shall, subject to control of the Chairperson, exercise all administrative and financial powers of the State Commission.

(4) The headquarters of the State Commission shall be at such place as the State Government may, by notification, specify.

(5) A State Commission may inquire into violation of human rights only in respect of matters relatable to any of the entries enumerated in List II and List III in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution: [Omitted]

Provided further that in relation to the Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission, this sub-section shall have effect as if for the words and figures “List II and List III in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution”, the words and figures “List III in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution as applicable to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and in respect of matters in relation to which the Legislature of that State has power to make laws” had been substituted. 3[(6) Two or more State Governments may, with the consent of a Chairperson or Member of a State Commission, appoint such Chairperson or, as the case may be, such Member of another State Commission simultaneously if such Chairperson or Member consents to such appointment:

Provided that every appointment made under this sub-section shall be made after obtaining the recommendations of the Committee referred to in sub-section (1) of section 22 in respect of the State for which a common Chairperson or Member, or both, as the case may be, is to be appointed.] (7) Subject to the provisions of section 12, the Central Government may, by order, confer upon the State Commission the functions relating to human rights being discharged by the Union territories, 5[other than Union territory of Delhi, Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh.

(8) The functions relating to human rights in case of Union territory of Delhi, Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh shall be dealt with by the Commission.]