The Congress party has accused the recently appointed Members of the National Human Rights Commission of being incompetent and fuelled the selection process as flawed. This comes after President Droupadi Murmu approved the appointment of former Supreme Court Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian Chairperson of NHRC as well as Priyank Kanoongo and Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi Members of the NHRC.
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge criticised it as a “pre-determined exercise” and regretted that the meeting of the Selection Committee did not allow meaningful negotiation between warring factions. They opposed some of the aspects of the process, such as its opacity and lack of equality and representation, which weakened the position of the NHRC.
The Congress party advocated for the role of NHRC in protect Human Rights of specially vulnerable groups. To amplify the diversity message the party put forward such leaders for consideration as former Supreme Court judges – Rohinton Fali Nariman and K.M. Joseph. Opposing the appointments, Congress leaders claimed they would only depict Indian ‘corrective’ pluralism and render NHRC’s role in protecting such sections more assertive.
The opposition also suggested the nominee S Muralidhar former Chief Justice of Orissa high court and Akil Abdulhamid Qureshi former Chief Justice of Rajasthan and Tripura High courts for NHRC membership. Both were commended for their commitment to social justice as well as the Constitution.
The Congress leaders insisted that merit is the requirement for posting but stressed that data that show regional, caste, and community representation is vital for civil service’s credibility. They complained of the majority’s “arrogant attitude” in the Selection Committee saying it compromises the neutrality of the NHRC.
The party demanded a thorough analysis of the procedures of the selection as a way of nurturing the spirit of superior representation and continued stand of the NHRC for human rights in India.
