Bhubaneswar, Aug 22 (IANS): Justice Bimal Prasad Das has been appointed the chairperson of the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), an official said on Thursday.

Governor Ganeshi Lal approved the appointment of Justice Das, a retired judge of the Orissa High Court.

Earlier, Das had headed a commission to suggest measures for bringing in reforms in the functioning of Jagannath temple in Puri.

The Governor also appointed advocate Asim Amitabh Das as OHRC member, said a notification of the law department.

A full-time chairperson for the OHRC has been appointed after seven years.

After the retirement of acting chairperson Justice B.K. Misra on August 16 last year, the rights watchdog had become headless.

The OHRC functions with one chairperson and two members. Presently, it is functioning with one member. Justice Raghubir Dash, who was appointed OHRC member in December last year, has been working as acting-chairperson of the rights watchdog since last May.