In a formal ceremony held at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) headquarters, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, assumed the role of Chairperson of NHRC. Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, and Shri Priyank Kanoongo, former Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), also joined as Members. The appointments were made by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on December 21, 2024.
Address by the New Chairperson
Justice V. Ramasubramanian, in his address, emphasized India’s deep-rooted tradition of human rights, citing Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar to illustrate how these values are integral to the nation’s cultural heritage. He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to protect and promote human rights effectively.
Profiles of the New Appointees
Justice V. Ramasubramanian
Born on June 30, 1958, in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, Justice Ramasubramanian had an illustrious legal career. After completing his B.Sc. in Chemistry and law studies in Chennai, he practiced for 23 years in the Madras High Court. He served as an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court in 2006, becoming a permanent judge in 2009.
In 2019, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and subsequently elevated to the Supreme Court of India, where he delivered 102 judgments, including notable ones on the 2016 Demonetization policy and evidentiary standards in bribery cases. He retired from the Supreme Court in June 2023.
Justice (Dr.) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi
Justice Sarangi, born on July 20, 1962, in Nayagarh, Odisha, is renowned for his contributions to civil, criminal, constitutional, and administrative law. A graduate of M.S. Law College, Cuttack, and a Ph.D. holder from Sambalpur University, he practiced law for 27 years before being appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Orissa High Court in 2013.
During his judicial career, Justice Sarangi resolved over 152,000 cases and authored nearly 1,500 judgments. As Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court in 2024, he played a pivotal role in legal reforms and public service enhancements.
Shri Priyank Kanoongo
A native of Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Shri Kanoongo is a dedicated advocate for child rights and education. With a B.Sc. in Microbiology, he led NCPCR for two terms from 2018 to 2024. His tenure focused on safeguarding children through innovative solutions, such as regulating OTT platforms for child-friendly content and resolving over 100,000 complaints.
Kanoongo’s book Pinjra-The Cage offers a comprehensive analysis of children in institutional care, advocating for culturally relevant welfare models.
Looking Ahead
The new leadership at NHRC aims to strengthen human rights protection through enhanced collaboration, technological integration, and stakeholder engagement. Justice Ramasubramanian and his team are committed to building a more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric system to uphold human rights across the nation.
