Centre to peruse SC order on appointment of NHRC chairperson

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday told the Delhi High Court that it would take a decision on amending the law pertaining to appointment of chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) after considering the orders passed by the Supreme Court on the issue. According to the existing law, only retired Chief Justices of India can be appointed chairperson of the NHRC. The post of chairperson of the commission is lying vacant after former Chief Justice of India S Rajendra Babu demitted office after reaching superannuation in 2009 which led to the filing of a PIL seeking a direction to the government in this regard. "A similar kind of petition is pending before the Supreme Court. A decision would be taken after perusing the orders passed in that petition," Additional Solicitor General A S Chandiok told the bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur.

Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO, said "changing the law to enable others except the retired Chief Justice of India to become the chairperson is not a difficult task". "The Centre, which had assured the court that it would amend the law, has taken seven adjournments in the case. Moreover, it had so far not filed its reply," he said. The bench, also comprising Justice Mukta Gupta, has now posted the matter for April 7. Earlier, the Centre had told the court that it is considering amending the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 to allow a retired judge of the Supreme Court and the chief justice of high court to head the panel. The petitioner claimed there are two retired Chief Justices of India eligible for the post but the government is reluctant to appoint them.