Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) HL Dattu took charge as the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
With this, he becomes the seventh Chairman of the NHRC, highest government institution protecting human rights of citizens.
About H L Dattu
- Born as Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu on 3 December 1950 in Chikmagalur in then Mysore State.
- He had started his legal career in 1975 after enrolling as an advocate in Bangalore and dealt with all types of matters like criminal, civil, tax and Constitutional cases.
- 1983 onwards he had appeared in various capacities before the Karnataka High Court including as government pleader for sales tax department etc.
- He was designated as a senior standing counsel for I-T department. Later in 1995, he was elevated as a judge of the Karnataka High Court.
- In 2007, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court and later was shifted in the same capacity to the Kerala High Court.
- He was 42nd Chief Justice of India from September 28, 2014 to December 2, 2015. He has several landmark judgments to his credit dealing with protection of Fundamental Rights of citizens and principles of law.
About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- NHRC is apex statutory watchdog of human rights in the country, i.e. the rights related to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international convents.
- Formed as per the statutory provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. It is multimember body consisting of Chairman and four members.
- President appoints the Chairman and members of the NHRC on the recommendation of the high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister.
- The committee includes Prime Minister (Head), Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.