Commissions in Kerala
Commissions in Kerala
■ Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC)
The responsibility of the Administrative Reforms Commission is to identify areas where reforms are needed in public administration and to make recommendations to the government. Four Administrative Reforms Commissions have been appointed since the formation of the State of Kerala in 1956.
■ Kerala State Election Commission (SEC)
The Kerala State Election Commission is a constitutional body. The State Election Commission is mentioned as part of Article 243 of the Constitution. According to Article 243K, the State Election Commission is responsible for preparing the electoral roll for Panchayat elections and conducting elections. According to Article 243ZA, the State Election Commission is responsible for preparing the electoral roll for Municipality elections and conducting elections. The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor. The State Election Commission came into existence in Kerala on 3 December 1993.
■ Kerala State Finance Commission
The State Finance Commission is a constitutional body. Article 243I of the Constitution directs the Governor to appoint a State Finance Commission every five years. The main functions of the State Finance Commission are to review the financial position of the local self-government bodies and to prepare recommendations for the distribution of resources between the State Government and the local self-government bodies. Panchayats as per Article 243I and Municipal Councils as per Article 243Y come under the purview of the State Finance Commission. The State Finance Commission was formed under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which came into effect in 1992. The first Finance Commission came into existence on 23 April 1994.
■ Kerala Public Service Commission
The Kerala Public Service Commission is a constitutional body. The Travancore Cochin Public Service Commission, established in 1949, became the Kerala Public Service Commission in 1956. Articles 315 to 323 of the Constitution deal with Public Service Commissions. The Governor has the power to appoint members to the State Public Service Commission. The term of chairman and members of office is six years or up to the age of 62 years.
■ Kerala State Information Commission (SIC)
The Kerala State Information Commission was notified on 19 December 2005 under the Right to Information Act, 2005. In addition to the State Chief Information Commissioner, there are five State Information Commissioners. The Governor has the power to appoint them.
■ Kerala State Human Rights Commission
It was established on 11th December 1998. It is Constituted as per the Section 21 of the Protection of the Human Rights Act, 1993. The Commission enquiries all sorts of human atrocities mentioned in the Protection of Human Rights Act. Its Head Quarters is Thiruvananthapuram.
■ Kerala Women's Commission
Its headquarters is in Trivandrum. It is constituted as per the section 17 of Kerala Womens Commission Act, 1990. Kerala Women's Commission formed for the improvement of women status and to enquire into unfair practices affecting women.
■ Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission
Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission is a quasi - judicial body. It was constituted as per the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998. Its mission is to encourage competition, efficiency and financial system in the Power sector, to control the ppp method of the distribution licensees for auction, distribution and deliver of power and to decide the tariff for power generation, transmission and current supply for wholesale, bulk or retail.
■ Kerala State Youth Commission
The objectives of the Kerala State Youth Commission are to protect the rights, education and empowerment of the youth. The Kerala State Youth Commission Act was notified on 13 February 2014. The term of the Chairperson of the Youth Commission is three years. In addition to the Chairperson, the Commission can have up to 13 members.
■ Kerala State Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Commission
The Kerala State Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Commission is constituted by the Kerala Government according to the Kerala State Commission for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Act, 2007. The Commission address the problems of scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes communities in Kerala. The commission has a chairperson, two members and a secretary belonging to SC/ST having special knowledge in matters relating to scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes. They are appointed by the government.
■ Kerala State Child Rights Commission
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights was established on 3 June 2013 under the provisions of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005 and the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Rules 2012. It has a chairperson and six members. The objective of the Commission is protecting the rights of children, promoting their best interests and the proper implementation of laws and programmes for children.
■ Kerala State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC)
It is statutory Commission constituted under the Kerala State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC) Act 1993 (Act 11). The Commission consists of a Chairman who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court appointed by the Government. Commission is to examine the requests for insertion of any group of citizens as backward classes in the lists. An amendment was made to the Act in 2000.
■ Kerala State Commission for Minorities
The Kerala State Minorities Commission was formed in 2013 under a special resolution. The Kerala Minorities Act - 2014 came into force on 15 May 2013. Its objectives are education, social security and empowerment of minority communities. It has powers equivalent to a civil court. It has a chairman and two members. Their term is three years.
■ Kerala State Commission for Economically Backward Classes among Forward Communities (KSCEBCFC)
The Kerala State Commission for Economically Backward Classes among Forward Communities is a statutory commission constituted by the Kerala Government according to the Kerala State Commission for Economically Backward Classes among Forward Communities Act , 2015. The Commission address the problems of economically backward classes among forward communities in Kerala. The commission has a chairperson who has been a former Judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court and two members belonging to forward community having special knowledge in matters relating to forward community. They are appointed by the government.
■ Kerala State Farmers Debt Relief Commission
Its headquarters is at Anayara, Trivandrum. It was established in 2007. Commission was formed according to the Kerala State Farmer's Debt Relief Commission Act 2006. Commission provides relief to farmers who are in distress. It recommend appropriate measures for the redressal of the grievances of farmers.
■ Kerala State Fishermen Debt Relief Commission
The Kerala State Fishermen Debt Relief Commission is constituted by the Kerala Government according to the Kerala Fishermen Debt Relief Commission Act, 2008. The commission address the problems of Fishermen in Kerala. The commission has a chairperson who has been a former Judge of High Court, one member who is an expert in fisheries, social, technical and financial administration and three representatives of fishermen. They are appointed by the government.
■ Kerala Law Reforms Commission
The Kerala Government has constituted the Kerala Law Reforms Commission in 2017. The commission consists of a chairman, vice chairman and other members. The commission will recommend appropriate amendments to the existing laws and discard the out of date laws. The commission will also make recommendations on new laws.
■ Kerala State Official Language Commission
The Kerala State Official Language Commission is the commission that scrutinizes the Hindi laws prepared by the Central Official Language (Legislative) Commission and makes the necessary amendments to adopt them into Malayalam. The Kerala State Official Language Commission is the only institution authorized to officially publish the Malayalam version of the Central laws in the state. The headquarters of the Kerala State Official Language Commission is in Thiruvananthapuram. The expenses related to the translation, printing and publication of the Central Government Acts are borne by the Central Government.
■ Kerala State Pay Revision Commission
The Kerala State Pay Revision Commission is a commission appointed with the objective of reviewing the salaries and other benefits of Kerala government employees and teachers from time to time in accordance with the norms. Since the formation of the state of Kerala, 11 pay revision commissions have been appointed so far.
■ Kerala State Food Commission
The State Food Commission is constituted by the Kerala Government as per Section 16 of National Food Security Act 2013. The commission monitor and evaluates the implementation of the Provisions of Food Security laid under Chapter II of National Food Security Act 2013. The commission has a chairperson, five members and a member secretary who is a state government officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to Government. They are appointed by the Kerala government.
■ Kerala State Statistical Commission
The Kerala State Statistical Commission is an apex body to advise the kerala government on statistical matters for data collection, making policies and strengthening the statistical system. The Commission is located at Kaimanam, Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala State Statistical Commission consists of a Chairperson, other Members and a Member Secretary.
■ Kerala State Art and Heritage Commission
Art and Heritage Commission for the State is constituted by the Kerala Government for identifying areas of heritage and monuments to be preserved. It also includes preserving areas, places and streets of architectural importance.The commission consists of a chairman and other officers who held various positions in LSG, PWD and Archaeology Departments nominated by the State Government.
■ Non-Resident Indians' (Keralites) Commission
Kerala Government has enacted the Non-Resident Indians' (Keralites) Commission Act, 2015 for constituting the Non-Resident Indians' (Keralites) Commission. The commission will protect the interests and security of the Non-resident Indians hailing from Kerala. They also recommends remedial measures for the welfare of Non- Resident Indians.
■ Kerala State Co-operative Election Commission
The State Government have constituted the State Co-operative Election Commission and commenced its operations since March 2001 onwards. The State Co-operative Election Commission exercises the power of superintendence, control and direction of the state co-operatives. They also conduct the elections to the committee of all apex, credit and federal societies in the state.
■ Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
Its location is Thiruvananthapuram. It was formed as per the provision contained in the Consumer Protection Act 1986. Consumer Courts was established in kerala during the year 1990 along with the Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. There would be one district forum in each district.
■ Kerala State Local Government Commission
The Government of Kerala has constituted the Local Government Commission to guide the institutionalisation process of Decentralisation in Kerala. Local Government Commission is conducting the People’s Plan Campaign in the state through Local Self Government Department. Local Government Commission is headed by a Chairman and other members. Its location is Nanthencode, Thiruvananthapuram.
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