Justice Shri D. Murugesan joins as Member, NHRC<br> <br>

In pursuance of the Warrant of Appointment signed by the President of India on the 17th September, 2013, Justice Shri D. Murugesan assumed office as Member of the National Human Rights Commission on the 21st September, 2013. Prior to his appointment as Member, NHRC, he was the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court from the 26th September, 2012 to the 9th June, 2013.

He was born in Cumbum Pudupatti, Theni District, Tamil Nadu on the 10th June, 1951 and after Secondary School Leaving Certificate Course from De-Britto High School, Devakottai in 1968 and Pre-University Course from St. Xavier's College, Palayamkottai in 1969, he completed Bachelor of Science Degree course from Thaigarajar College, Madurai in 1972. He completed his Bachelor of General Law course from the Madras University in 1974 and was a gold medalist with first rank in Bachelor of Law degree course from the same University in 1975. He joined the legal profession the same year.

As an advocate he honed his skills under the guidance of eminent seniors like Shri K.K. Venugopal and Shri Rangarajan Kumarmangalam. During his illustrious legal career, he served as the Standing Counsel for Madras University, the Corporation of Chennai and Selection Committee for MBBS, P.G. and Super Speciality courses from 1994-2000. He also served as the Special Government Pleader and Government Pleader for the Government of Tamil Nadu from 1994 to 2000.

He was appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court on the 2nd March, 2000. During his more than 12 years tenure in the Madras High Court, he disposed of more than 1.30 lakh cases. He also presided over various Administrative Committees, served as the Chairman of COFEPOSA Board and the President of Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy for over a period of three years.

During his short tenure in the Delhi High Court as Chief Justice from the 26th September, 2012 to the 9th June, 2013, he took several important decisions including, among others, implementation of Right to Education from nursery classes to ensure equal opportunity to students of all sections, ban on sale of junk food in schools, reforms in Tihar jail, more night shelters for homeless, periodical surprise check of fruits and vegetables in city markets for pesticide residue, suo motu cognizance of the December 16 Delhi gang rape and setting up of a special court for day-to-day hearing of the case for expeditious trial, directions to all lower courts to hold day-to-day hearings of sexual assault cases and directions to all private hospitals to admit victims of heinous crimes like rape and murder.