New Delhi, Dec 18: A committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened here on Wednesday to choose the next chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), sources reported.
It was also noted that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi participated in the meeting in their capacities as opposition leaders in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, respectively.
The NHRC chairperson position has been vacant since Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra finished his term on June 1.
Justice Mishra, a former Supreme Court judge, was the eighth chairperson of the commission, having been appointed in June 2021.
As per NHRC regulations, the selection committee, chaired by the prime minister, includes the Lok Sabha Speaker, home minister, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, and deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha as members.
Following Justice Mishra’s departure, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, a member of the NHRC, stepped in as acting chairperson.
The president appoints the NHRC chairperson from among former chief justices of India or retired Supreme Court judges, based on the selection committee’s recommendation.
Notable former chairpersons include H L Dattu and K G Balakrishnan. (PTI)
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