Ex-CJI HL Dattu selected as new Chairman of NHRC

Union Government has selected former Chief Justice of India (CJI) H L Dattu as new Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
He will succeed Mr. K.G. Balakrishnan who had demitted office after his five-year term ended in May 2015. Since then Justice C Joseph is functioning as the acting Chairman.
Background

• Selection Committee: He was selected by the high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee also included Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P J Kurien and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. His name will be sent to the President Pranab Mukherjee for his approval.
• Statutory provisions: As per the provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, President appoints the Chairman and members of the NHRC on the recommendation of the high-powered committee headed by the Prime Minister.

About H L Dattu

• Born 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.

NHRC: It 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.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2016