Justice V Ramasubramanian, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India on Monday assumed the charge of the Chairperson and Justice (Dr.) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi as the Member of the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC).
Former NCPCR head, Priyank Kanoongo had joined the Commission as a Member last week. They were appointed by President Draupadi Murmu.
Addressing the gathering, Justice Ramasubramanian highlighted the country’s ancient tradition of valuing and practising human rights, even before the concept became globally recognized. Citing the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, he emphasised that human rights are deeply embedded in India’s cultural fabric. He also stressed that promoting and protecting human rights requires a collaborative effort among various stakeholders.
Kanoongo during his tenure at the NCPCR had emphasised the need for child welfare systems tailored to India’s unique cultural context, advocating for “Indian solutions to Indian problems” rather than adopting foreign models.
Under his leadership, the NCPCR launched several initiatives to protect children’s rights, including regulating OTT platforms to safeguard children from inappropriate content. He also introduced multiple portals to improve stakeholders engagement and resolved over 100,000 complaints during his tenure. Justice (Dr.) Sarangi, an eminent jurist known for his contributions to Indian law became the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court in July 2024.