Justice J.S. Verma - the new Chairperson of NHRC

Mr. Justice Jagdish Sharan Verma is the new Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission. A warrant of appointment to this effect was issued by the President of India on 1 November 1999. He succeeds Mr. Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah, who laid down office on 24 October 1999 on attaining the age of seventy.

Justice Verma was the Chief Justice of India from 25 March 1997 to 18 January 1998.

Born on 18 January 1933 in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, Justice J.S. Verma was appointed Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court on 14 June 1986. He was transferred to the Rajasthan High Court as its Chief Justice on 1 September 1986 and was appointed Acting Governor of Rajasthan twice – from October 1987 to February 1988 and again in February 1989. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court on 3 June 1989.

Advisory Committee on amendments of Human Rights Act submits report

The high-level Advisory Committee set up by the National Human Rights Commission under the Chairmanship of Mr.Justice A.M. Ahmadi, former Chief Justice of India, to assess the needs for structural changes and amendments to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, submitted its report to the Commission on 18 October 1999.

The Committee had invited and received letters, notes and memoranda from Chief Justices of various High Courts, Chairpersons of State Human Rights Commissions, Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Heads of Parliamentary Committees, non-governmental organisations and members of public, giving their views and suggestions on the Act. After careful consideration, the Committee finalised its recommendations and presented these to the Commission in the form of a draft amendment Bill. The amendments suggested seek to remove some of the major impediments experienced by the NHRC in the administration of the Act, as well as other structural inadequacies in it.

The Commission will now consider the recommendations of the Committee and make its own proposals to the Government.