Media criticism cost Sabharwal NHRC job: Govt

The government admits to have given way to adverse media and other reports against former Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal and dropped his name from the chairmanship of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). An RTI reply from the Ministry of Home Affairs,Human Rights Division,for the first time lets out that the government felt that it would not be right to offer the highly sensitive post of heading the countrys top human rights body to Justice Sabharwal because of negative publicity against him.

Because of the adverse media and other reports with regard to Justice Y K Sabharwal,it was felt that the highly sensitive post of Chairperson,NHRC,may not be offered to him, stated the reply,dated March 15,2010,drafted by Section Officer T K Sarkar.

Not detailing if the usage other reports meant official reports on the former Chief Justice of India (CJI),the ministry said Justice Sabharwal was otherwise indeed eligible for appointment to the post of Chairperson,NHRC,as per the provision of the Protection of Human Rights Act,1993.

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After Justice Sabharwal,the next judge eligible to qualify to the post is his successor and present CJI K G Balakrishnan,whose terms ends on May 12,2010. Only a retired CJI is eligible to be considered as NHRC chairperson as per the 1993 Act.

Similarly,the letter said the government had approached another former CJI,Justice R S Lahoti,who declined the job saying he was otherwise very busy.