Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission finds itself in a state of disarray following Justice S Manikumar's refusal to assume the role of Chairman without informing the government, leaving the Commission without a clear leader.

Justice Manikumar, a retired High Court judge, had been recommended by a committee led by the Chief Minister to assume the position of Chairman. However, his reluctance to accept the position was communicated solely to the Chief Justice of the High Court and the Governor, with the government left officially unaware till recently.

The saga began after the retirement of Justice Anthony Dominic in August 2023, which left the commission without a permanent Chairman. Despite initial recommendations for Justice Manikumar's appointment, delays ensued due to allegations of bias (towards the government) during his tenure as a judge. Following the complaints, Raj Bhavan did not take a decision regarding the appointment file. The government appointed K Baijunath as the acting chairman, only for the position to become vacant again upon his retirement.

Efforts to resolve the deadlock saw the government and the Raj Bhavan engaged in a tug-of-war, further complicating matters. The Governor finally signed the file to appoint Justice Manikumar, resolving the issue. However, Justice Manikumar's refusal threw the commission back into uncertainty.

The failure to appoint a Chairman has raised concerns about the legality of the Commission's decisions on grievances. According to conditions, the Commission requires a Chairman or acting chairman for functioning. The absence of such leadership jeopardizes the Commission's ability to fulfill its mandate effectively.