Shubdeep Chaudhary
New Delhi, December 24
Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi (Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi) had registered their disagreement on the election of the chairman and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). They alleged that the process followed was “inherently flawed” and that everything was “pre-decided” by the government and mutual consultation and consensus was ignored.
Justice V Ramasubramanian, a former judge of the Supreme Court, has been appointed as the new chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. However, the Congress leaders proposed the names of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph for this post.
The post of NHRC Chairperson fell vacant after the tenure of Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed on June 1. The meeting of the selection committee for the election of the chairperson and members of the NHRC was held on December 18 at Parliament House.
The high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to select the chairperson and members of the commission includes Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjuna. Kharge is included as a member.
In their dissent note, Kharge and Gandhi disagreed on the ground that the selection process followed by the committee was fundamentally flawed. He said in his dissenting note, “This was already settled practice which ignored the established tradition of mutual consultation and consensus, which is necessary in such cases.” This approach undermines the principles of impartiality and non-discrimination, which are vital to the credibility of the Election Commission.”
Kharge and Gandhi said that instead of encouraging discussion and ensuring a collective decision, the committee relied on its numerical majority to finalize the names and ignored the legitimate concerns and views raised during the meeting. He said that the NHRC is an important legal institution entrusted with the task of protecting the fundamental human rights of all citizens, especially the downtrodden and marginalized sections of the society.
Also read:
Obstacles in the way of Rahul Gandhi
Modi did an event management stunt in the name of job fair: Kharge
Parliament scuffle: Case filed against Rahul Gandhi transferred to Crime Branch
He said, “We have proposed the names of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Kutilil Mathew Joseph for the post of Chairperson, keeping in mind the merit and the need for inclusiveness…. Justice Nariman, an eminent jurist from the minority Parsi community, is known for his intellect. Known for unwavering commitment to excellence and constitutional values. His appointment to this post will send a strong message about the NHRC’s commitment to representing India’s pluralistic society.”
So did former Supreme Court judge Justice Joseph, who belongs to the minority Christian community, Kharge and Gandhi said. He has consistently delivered decisions that emphasize individual liberties and the protection of marginalized groups, making him an ideal candidate for this important position. He said, “Apart from this, as members, we Justice S. Recommended the names of Muralidhar and Justice Aqeel Abdulhamid Qureshi, who have an exemplary record in upholding human rights.”