Karnataka Wednesday became the 13th state in India to set up a human rights commission of its own.

The government has issued a notification to constitute the Karnataka Human Rights Commission (KHRC) under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

According to the law department, the five-member commission would be headed by a former chief justice of the high court.

"Of the four members, two will be sitting or retired high court judges and sitting or retired district judges. The remaining members will be selected from among eminent persons with expertise and background in human rights issues," a senior official told.

The KHRC, to be headquartered in Bangalore, has been set up under the direction of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

"The KHRC will have a full-fledged investigation team, headed by an inspector general of police," the official said.