State orders constitution of new security commission

Says three-member panel will select non-official members

The government has ordered constitution of a new 10-member state security commission to monitor functioning and recommend measures to improve police performance.

The state,which was facing flak for arbitrary appointment of five non-official members on the previous commission,has decided to select new non-official members based on recommendations of a three-member committee of a retired high court judge and chairmen of human rights and public service commissions.

Earlier,the members were appointed by the government. There had been concern about credentials of certain members of the previous commission.

The new commission will be chaired by home minister. The members would include leader of opposition,chief secretary,additional chief secretary and DGP. The non-official members would be selected from civil society.

The previous commission constituted April 14,2010,included retired judge Ashutosh Kumbhakoni,former DG P S Pasricha,ex-IAS officer Pratima Umerjee,activist Farida Lambe,industrialist Vijay Kalantri and director of IIT Powai.

There were complaints some of these members were included because of their proximity to politicians. The previous commission was also accused of being toothless.

As per guidelines,the state is likely to choose an academician,a legal luminary,an industrialist,scientist and an NGO representative as non-official members this time.

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It is a good move to appoint a committee to select the members. The previous commission hardly met, said former DGP K Subramanyam.

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