Congress terms NHRC chief selection process as “fundamentally flawed”

New Delhi: The Congress party has criticised the process for selecting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson, describing it as “fundamentally flawed.”

The Congress party has slammed the selection process for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson, terming it as “fundamentally flawed.” The criticism comes a day after President Droupadi Murmu appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian to the post.

In their dissent note, Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed discontent with the selection process. They claimed the committee meeting, held on Wednesday, was a “predetermined exercise” that disregarded the tradition of mutual consultation and consensus.

Highlighting the significance of fairness and impartiality in the selection process, especially for a statutory body like the NHRC, which is responsible for safeguarding the human rights of all citizens, particularly marginalised groups, Gandhi and Kharge recommended the names of Justices (Retd.) Rohinton Fali Nariman and K.M. Joseph, citing their judicial expertise and commitment to constitutional values. They also proposed Justices (Retd.) S. Muralidhar and Akil Kureshi for NHRC membership, considering their contributions to advancing social justice and civil liberties. The opposition تاکید on the need for inclusivity and merit in such appointments.

Justice Ramasubramanian’s appointment comes after the post remained vacant since June 1, following the conclusion of Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra’s tenure. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, a former advocate of the Telangana High Court, had been serving as acting chairperson.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore also voiced support for the dissent, stating on social media that the process “undermined the principles of fairness and accountability.”