Imphal: The Manipur Human Rights Commission will have a chairperson after nearly a decade. It will take up citizens' complaints soon.

Official sources said decks have been cleared for Punjab Human Rights Commission chairman Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari to assume charge as the chairperson of the commission. He will hold dual charge of both states.

The Manipur rights panel has not been functioning since the expiry of the terms of then chairperson and members in May 2010. The state government has not appointed the chairperson and members since then despite demands by citizens' organisations.

Then chairperson Justice W.A. Shishak had complained that he was not paid regularly by the state government.

The N. Biren Singh government intensified search for a chairperson after Manipur High Court last month directed it to appoint a chairperson and other members of the commission. A high court bench, comprising acting Chief Justice N. Kotishwar Singh and Justice Kh. Nobin Singh, also directed the government to appoint other officers in a time-bound manner as the state rights commission, in the absence of adequate officers and staff, was unable to function effectively.

The Manipur government approached Justice Ansari who accepted the proposal.

An official said, "The state government had approached the chairperson of the Punjab rights commission who agreed to accept the offer only if the Punjab government did not have any objection. The state government wrote to the Punjab government to seek permission,which was granted by the latter."

The official said the government is also in the process of appointing other members of the Manipur rights panel.

Rights activists welcomed the high court directive and said it would be a huge relief for the poor who cannot afford to go to courts.