New Delhi, Jun 2 (UNI): Retired Supreme Court judge Arun Kumar Mishra on Wednesday took over as the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
He had retired from the apex court last September.
Justice Mishra enrolled as a lawyer in 1978. He was elected youngest chairperson of Bar Council of India in 1998-99.
The chairman post had been vacant following completion of tenure of the preceding incumbent justice H L Dattu.
Mishra’s tenure at the top court was marked by various controversies, prominent being the Judge Loya case and the Prashant Bhushan contempt of court case.
This is the first time in its 27-year history that the government will have formally appointed to the chairmanship of NHRC someone other than a former chief justice.
The appointment created furore on Twitter questioning Mishra’s current role. A Twitterati wrote, “The worst was the Mishra bench passed directions to 21 states for the eviction of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers, whose claims under the Forest Rights Act were rejected. Eventually the order was stayed.”
Last year, Mishra stirred controversy when he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public function.
