Former SC judge AK Mishra set to be NHRC chief, Kharge gives dissent note

NEW DELHI: The government is likely to appoint former Supreme Court judge Arun Kumar Mishra as the new chairman of the NHRC. The decision is likely to follow a meeting of the selection panel that took place on Monday. Former IB Director Rajeev Jain and a former Chief Justice of the high court may be new members of the apex rights body.
The selection panel, which comprises the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, accepted the names but Mallikarjun Kharge is learnt to have dissented.
The Congress leader suggested that a ST/SC or minority should be appointed as the member of the Commission, arguing that most of the complaints about rights violations pertain to these underprivileged communities. However, the other members are reported to have disagreed with his demand. Kharge said while there was no such provision in the Act, those names were also not barred from appointment and urged that the panel meet again to discuss the appointments.
When his request was turned down, he is learnt to have submitted his dissent.