Former SC Judge V Ramasubramanian Appointed as 9th NHRC Chairperson

President Droupadi Murmu appointed former Supreme Court judge V Ramasubramanian as the 9th Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on 23 December 2024. President Droupadi Murmu also appointed Priyank Kanoongo and Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi (Retd.) as Members of the NHRC.

The post of the NHRC Chairperson has been lying vacant since the completion of the term of the 8th Chairperson of NHRC, Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra on 1 June 2024.

Justice (retd) V Balasubramanian will succeed Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, who was performing the duty of acting chairperson of the NHRC.

Under the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, the government of India established the National Human Rights Commission of India on 12 October 1993.

Similarly, every state government has also set up the State Human Rights Commission under the provisions of the  Protection of Human Rights Act 1993.

Appointment of the NHRC Chairperson and its Members

According to the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 as amended in 2019 the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission and its members are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.

Selection Committee 

The Prime Minister heads the Selection Committee.

Members are; the Union Home Minister; the Speaker of the Lok Sabha; the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; the Leader of the Opposition of Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Composition of the NHRC 

The NHRC consists of a Chairperson who has been a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.

Other members are;

• Judge of the Supreme Court- serving or retired;
•  Chief Justice of a High Court- serving or retired;
• Three Members out of which at least one shall be a woman, of persons having knowledge or practical experience in matters relating to human rights.

Deemed members of the NHRC 

There is also a provision for deemed members of the NHRC who are as follows;

The Chairpersons of the 

• National Commission for Backward Classes, 
• National Commission for Minorities, 
• the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, 
• National Commission for the Scheduled Castes, 
• National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes,
• National Commission for Women and
• Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

Terms of the NHRC Chairperson and Members

• Three years or seventy years whichever is earlier.
• However, the Chairperson and the members are eligible for reappointment subject to that they have not attained seventy years of age. 
• They can resign from their office by addressing a letter to the President.

Chairpersons of the NHRC 

Following is the list of the Chairperson of the NHRC