Forum expresses shock over NHRC appointments
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AAA The All India Network of NGOs and Individuals working with the National and State Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI) expressed shock and raised concerns over the procedure adopted for the recent appointments in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
National working secretary of AiNNI Henri Tiphagne said that the appointment committee had completely disregarded the recommendations of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), NHRC’s own submissions before the SCA in 2017, amendments to the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA) in 2019 and the appeals made by civil society.
CHENNAI: Human rights organisations, activists and politicians demanded that the Centre cancel the appointment of former Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Kumar Mishra as the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). They termed the appointment as a “brazen and deliberate blow” to the Constitution by the Union government.
“The decision made by the Narendra Modi-led government smacks of brazen arrogance and indifference to public opinion and once against highlights the cynical disdain of the government for democratic norms and constitutional proprieties,” according to a joint statement signed by 68 human rights activists, lawyers, writers and journalists across the country. The activists who issued the statement include retired IAS officer M G Devasahayam, People s Union for Civil Liberties general secretary Dr V Suresh and Henri Tiphagne of People’s Watch.
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Retired SC Judge Arun Kumar Mishra Appointed As NHRC Chairperson; Opposition Sees Red
On Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind appointed retired SC judge Arun Kumar Mishra as the NHRC chairperson based on the recommendation of a selection panel.
Image: Twitter/PTI
On Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind appointed retired SC judge Arun Kumar Mishra as the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission based on the recommendation of a selection panel. The high-powered committee comprised of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. While reportedly the names of three ex-Chief Justices of India were among the shortlisted candidates, Mishra was eventually chosen.
‘Move that smacks of brazen arrogance’
A group of human rights activists on Wednesday raised concerns over the appointment of former Supreme Court judge, Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, as the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The Centre’s decision “smacks of brazen arrogance and indifference to public opinion and once again highlights the cynical disdain of the government for democratic norms and constitutional proprieties”.
The activists pointed out that the selection of Justice Mishra by a committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was despite the objection of another committee member, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. The Congress leader had suggested appointing someone from Dalit, Adivasi or minority communities, “considering that the bulk of victims of state abuse comes from these communities”.