Cong slams rights panel appointments as flawed
Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have recorded their dissent over the selection of the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by disregarding their suggestion of picking someone from the minority community.
In a dissent note, they alleged it was a was “pre-determined” exercise and the process was “fundamentally flawed” that ignored mutual consultation and consensus.
They had proposed the names of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph for the chairperson’s post. However, former Supreme Court judge V Ramasubramanian has been selected.
The post of NHRC chairperson had been lying vacant since Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed his tenure on June 1.
They said while merit was undeniably the primary criterion, maintaining a balance that reflected the regional, caste, community and religious diversity of the nation was equally important. “This balance ensures that the NHRC operates with an inclusive perspective, sensitive to the lived experiences of all sections of society. By neglecting this critical principle, the committee risks eroding public trust in this esteemed institution,” the two leaders warned.
Kharge and Gandhi also objected to the appointment of the two NHRC members. They had proposed the names of former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court Justice S Murlidhar and former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court Justice Akil Abdulhamid Kureshi. However, Priyank Kanoongo and Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi (retd) were selected.
The meeting of the high-powered committee for picking the NHRC chairperson and members was held on December 18 at the Parliament House. The committee headed by the Prime Minister consists of the Lok Sabha Speaker, Home Minister and the Leaders of the Opposition of both Houses of Parliament.
The two LoPs alleged the selection process was a pre-determined exercise that ignored the established tradition of mutual consultation and consensus, which was essential in such matters. “This departure undermines the principles of fairness and impartiality, which are critical to the credibility of the selection committee,” they said.
