The government on Monday formed a recommendation committee to nominate candidates for the chairpersons and members of the two transitional justice bodies that will fall vacant beginning April 14.

The five-member committee, led by former chief justice Om Prakash Mishra will recommend, names of 10 people—five each for Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons—including a chairperson each for the two commissions. The existing transitional justice Act envisions the committee under former chief justice of the Supreme Court, National Human Rights Commission chair or a member recommend by the chair and three more members who are experts in the field of legal, constitutional and human rights.

“The recommendation committee has been formed as per the legal provision,” a minister told the Post, on the condition of anonymity as he was not allowed to talk to the media. The government through the amendment in the Enforced Disappearances Inquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act-2014, has set April 13 as the last day for the incumbent chairpersons and members of the two commissions. Though the chairperson and a member of TRC have already resigned, eight other officials continue to work.

The government has decided to replace the current officials at the two commissions with new faces following the demands of the conflict victims and human rights defenders. Out of  around 63,000 complaints it has received, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has only completed preliminary investigation into 4,000 cases. Similarly, the Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons has conducted primary investigation into 2,200 cases out of 3,000 complaints registered with it.

“We are happy to learn that the recommendation committee has formally been formed. We believe it will pick the competent people in both the commissions,” Phanindra Luitel, general secretary of Conflict Victims Common Platform, told the Post.

The two commissions formed in 2015 have already completed their four years and the new leadership will have maximum of two years to conclude the remaining task. The Mishra led committee will take at least a month to recommend the names.