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Avinash Rai Khanna to be appointed NHRC member Press Trust of India, New DelhiUpdated: Nov 06, 2016 19:38 IST Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna is all set to be appointed

3 Avinash Rai Khanna to be appointed NHRC member Press Trust of India, New DelhiUpdated: Nov 06, :38 IST Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna is all set to be appointed as a member of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with a high-level selection panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi clearing his name. The 55-year-old former Rajya Sabha member from Punjab and BJP incharge of Jammu and Kashmir will perhaps be the first active politician to be appointed as a member of the NHRC, which is headed by a former chief justice of India. Khanna s name was cleared by the panel comprising the Lok Sabha speaker, deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Union home minister, leaders of opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha with the Prime Minister as its head last month, official sources said. As per Section 3 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which deals with the issue of constitution of a National Human Rights Commission, only a former chief justice can be appointed as NHRC chairperson. The four full-time members, as per the Act, should include a former judge of the Supreme Court, a former chief justice of a high court and two others from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights. After his Lok Sabha constituency of Hoshiarpur became a reserved seat, Khanna did not contest the 2009 Parliamentary polls. Later, the Akali-BJP government appointed him as a member of Punjab State Human Rights Commission. Khanna quit that post after about 13 months, when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. When BJP was in the opposition, the party had favoured appointing persons of impeccable credentials to such posts. In 2013, the then leaders of opposition in both the Houses Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley had opposed the move to appoint former Supreme Court judge Cyriac Joseph as a member of NHRC claiming that there was an adverse intelligence report against him. However, most of the other members, including the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected the objection and cleared the appointment. BJP had also opposed the then UPA government s move to appoint former chief of National Investigation Agency SC Sinha as member of NHRC as he had allegedly pursued the terror cases against right-wing outfits. However, in case of Khanna, there was no dissent in the selection panel, the sources said.

4 The Indian Express In a first, NHRC prepares for a political appointee Sources in the NHRC said this is the first time an active politician is being appointed to the post, which has remained vacant for over two years now. Written by Maneesh Chhibber, Manoj C G New Delhi Updated: Nov 6, 2016, 5:04 IN A move that could have far-reaching impact, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is in the final stages of appointing a politician from its own ranks as a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Sources in the NHRC said this is the first time an active politician is being appointed to the post, which has remained vacant for over two years now. According to sources, BJP vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna is likely to be appointed as NHRC member in the next few days. Khanna, the party leader in charge of Jammu & Kashmir, was a member of the Rajya Sabha till April this year. The chairperson and members of the NHRC are selected by a high-level committee headed by the Prime Minister, and comprising the Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Sources said the panel met last month to discuss names for the vacant post. Some other names were also discussed, but his (Khanna s) name was cleared. There was no dissent, said a member of the panel. Section 3 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which deals with the issue of Constitution of a National Human Rights Commission, says that only a former Chief Justice of India can be appointed NHRC chairperson. The four full-time members, as per the Act, should include a former judge of the Supreme Court, a former chief justice of a high court and two others from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights. While there is no bar on a political person being appointed to this post, it is certainly highly questionable. This sends a wrong signal. Couldn t the committee find somebody without political links, said a former NHRC member who did not want to be named. After his Lok Sabha constituency of Hoshiarpur became a reserved seat, Khanna did not contest the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab appointed him as a member of the Punjab

5 State Human Rights Commission. However, Khanna quit that post after about 13 months, after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. When it was in the opposition, the BJP had stressed the need to appoint persons of impeccable credentials to such posts. In 2013, then Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley had opposed, in writing, the move to appoint former Supreme Court judge Cyriac Joseph as a member of the NHRC as Joseph was perceived to be close to certain political and religious organisations. However, most of the other members, including then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, rejected the objections and cleared the appointment.

6 India today.in NHRC appointment: BJP vice-president to be on human rights panel; protest on social media With the government ready to send an active politician to the NHRC, apparently for the first time, the social media is abuzz with voices of opposition. New Delhi, November 6, 2016 Social media is abuzz with voices of opposition against reports of first possible appointment of an active politician in the in the National Human Rights Commission. According to Indian Express, BJP vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna is likely to be appointed as a member of the NHRC. The post has been vacant for past two years. Voicing his opposition to the decision of appointment, former Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan said that the Modi government was attempting to diminish independent institutions. Bhushan tweeted, "Modi government's alarming decimation of all Accountability Institutions continues with appointment of BJP's JK VP as member NHRC.

7 The Financial Express Under the Narendra Modi government, NHRC set to appoint a politician as a member, for the first time The Narendra Modi-led central government is all set to appoint an active politician for a post in the National Human Right Commission (NHRC), which remained vacant for over two years now. November 6, :51 AM With possible lead towards another political controversy, the Narendra Modi-led central government is all set to appoint an active politician for a post in the National Human Right Commission (NHRC), which remained vacant for over two years now. According to sources, the central government is in the final stage of appointing Avinash Rai Khanna, the BJP vice-president in charge of Jammu & Kashmir, as a member of NHRC. Khanna had been a member of the Rajya Sabha till April this year. NHRC comprises of four full-time members, who are appointed under Section 3 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which deals with the issue of Constitution of a National Human Rights Commission. According to the act, among the members, one should be a former judge of the Supreme Court, one chief justice of the High Court, and other two with knowledge or practical experience in the field. The committee is selected by a higher level committee headed by the Prime Minister, with Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. While in opposition in 2013, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley had opposed the appointment of former Supreme Court judge Cyriac Joseph as the member of the NHRC, citing connections of the judge with political and religious organizations. Though there is no restriction in the appointment of a politician as a member of NHRC, it certainly do seed another political storm.

8 Politicisation of NHRC? Modi govt to appoint BJP MP Avinash Rai Khanna as member of human rights panel NHRC appointment: However there is no bar for politicians, questions are being asked why couldn't the Modi government appoint a person with no political links. By India.com News Desk Published: November 6, :49 PM IST New Delhi, Nov 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is set to make major change in the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), appointing a political figure for the time as the member of the panel. The Modi government is likely to appoint a full-time politician for the post, which has remained vacant for over two years in the NHRC. Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna is the leading contender for the vacant NHRC post. If sources are to be believed, Modi-government is likely to appoint Avinash Rai Khanna as a member of the NHRC. This is the first time an active politician is being made a member of the NHRC. Narendra Modi led government is in the final stage of appointing Avinash Rai Khanna as a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The panel, which appoints chairperson and members of the NHRC, has decided to appoint Avinash Rai Khanna as a member of the NHRC. The panel, which is headed by the Prime Minister, has the Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha as it s members. Some other names were also discussed, but his (Khanna s) name was cleared. There was no dissent, a member of the panel was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. Avinash Rai Khanna had earlier been a member of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission for 13 months, after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Khanna, the party leader in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, had not contested election since 2009 after his Lok Sabha constituency of Hoshiarpur became a reserved seat. Even before the announcement, the likely decision of the Modi government has come under scanner. However there is no bar for politicians, questions are being asked why couldn t the Modi government appoint a person with no political links. A person of the ruling party as the member of the NHRC might affect the activities of the commission. According to the Section 3 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which deals with the issue of Constitution of a National Human Rights Commission, only a former Chief Justice of India can be appointed NHRC chairperson. The Act also says only a former judge of the Supreme Court, a former chief justice of a high court and two others from amongst persons

9 having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights can be appointed as the full-time member of the NHRC. When it was in opposition, BJP had stressed the need to appoint persons of impeccable credentials and with no affiliation with political or religious outfit to the NHRC post. In 2013, then Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley had opposed the appointment of former Supreme Court judge Cyriac Joseph as a member of the NHRC as Joseph was perceived to be close to certain political and religious organisations. Opposing the move of the Modi government, former Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan said that the government was attempting to diminish independent institutions. Modi government s alarming decimation of all Accountability Institutions continues with appointment of BJP s JK VP as member NHRC, Bhushan tweeted. Opposition parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also objected the appointment of Avinash Rai Khanna as the NHRC member.

10 NHRC set to get a politician member for first time, Modi govt to announce soon: Report New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is in the final stages of appointing a politician from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) as a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a move that is expected to set another round of political storm. 6 th November, 2016 While there are no rules barring appointment of politicians, it is considered highly questionable. BJP vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna, a former Rajya Sabha MP and party s in charge of Jammu & Kashmir, is likely to be appointed as NHRC member in the next few days, Indian Express reported, citing sources. The position has been vacant for over two years now. The report quoted sources in the NHRC as saying that this is the first time an active politician is being appointed to the post. According to The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the Commission consist of four members and the chairperson. The chairperson must be a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a sitting or former Judge of the Supreme Court, a sitting or former Chief Justice of a High Court as its members. Other two members shouls be from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights. The chairperson and members are selected by a committee headed by the Prime Minister, and comprising the Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. According to the report, the committee met last month to discuss names for the vacant post. Some other names were also discussed, but Khanna s name was cleared. There was no dissent, a member of the panel said. While there is no bar on a political person being appointed to this post, it is certainly highly questionable. This sends a wrong signal. Couldn t the committee find somebody without political links, a former NHRC member said, according to the report.

11 Khanna was elected to Lok Sabha from Punjab s Hoshiarpur constituency in In 2009, when it became a reserved seat, Khanna did not contest the election. He was appointed as a member of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission by the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab but he quit after 13 months when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha. BJP, when in opposition, had opposed appointments of people with "political leanings" to the body and stressed the need to appoint persons of impeccable credentials to such posts. In 2013, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley had opposed the move to appoint former Supreme Court judge Cyriac Joseph as a member of the NHRC as Joseph was perceived to be close to certain political and religious organisations. However, the objection was brushed aside by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other members and Joseph was cleared for the appointment.

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