Justice V. Ramasubramanian has been appointed Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with Justice (Dr.) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi as a new Member. Appointed by President Droupadi Murmu, they both emphasize the importance of collaboration in promoting human rights, drawing on India’s cultural heritage, aiming to enhance justice and dignity for all in India.
New Delhi: Justice V. Ramasubramanian, a distinguished former judge of the Supreme Court of India, has officially assumed the position of Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Alongside him, Justice (Dr.) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi has taken charge as a Member of the Commission. Their appointments were made by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on December 21.
The event was attended by Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Acting Chairperson, Bharat Lal, Secretary General, and senior officers and staff of the Commission.
In his address, Justice Ramasubramanian underscored India’s ancient tradition of respecting and practising human rights, emphasizing its intrinsic role in the nation’s cultural heritage. Citing the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, he remarked,
“Human rights are deeply embedded in India’s cultural fabric.”
He also stressed the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to promote and protect human rights in the modern era.
Born on June 30, 1958, in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, Justice Ramasubramanian brings decades of judicial experience to the NHRC.
- He completed his BSc in Chemistry from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai, and pursued law at Madras Law College.
- Enrolled as a member of the Bar in 1983, he practised law in the Madras High Court for 23 years.
- Appointed as an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court in 2006 and made permanent in 2009.
- Transferred to the Telangana High Court after serving the High Court of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh post-bifurcation.
- Became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2019, later ascending to the Supreme Court of India the same year.
- Retired on June 29, 2023, after authoring 102 judgments, including key cases like the 2016 Demonetization policy and rulings on circumstantial evidence in bribery cases.
Justice (Dr.) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi, born on July 20, 1962, in Nayagarh, Odisha, has an illustrious career marked by significant contributions to Indian law:
- Holding LLB and LLM degrees from MS Law College, Cuttack, he also earned a PhD in Law from Sambalpur University.
- Practised law for 27 years, excelling in civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law.
- Recognized with the Haricharan Mukherjee Memorial Award and Gold Medal in 2002.
- Appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Orissa High Court in 2013, where he authored nearly 1,500 judgments and disposed of over 152,000 cases.
- Served as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court in July 2024.
- Actively contributed to the Odisha State Legal Services Authority and the Juvenile Justice Committee and participated in various national and international legal bodies.
Both appointees bring an exceptional breadth of expertise and commitment to their new roles at the NHRC. Their combined experience is expected to drive forward initiatives for protecting and promoting human rights in India.
Justice Ramasubramanian reiterated that collaboration across stakeholders is vital to tackling contemporary human rights challenges. His emphasis on India’s cultural roots in upholding human dignity highlights the NHRC’s broader vision for the future.
With their leadership, the NHRC is poised to make strides in ensuring justice and dignity for all, safeguarding rights that have been a cornerstone of India’s values for centuries.
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