New Delhi, Jan 6 (UNI) Justice V Ramasubramanian, the newly appointed Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), emphasized extraordinary efforts required to uphold human rights in a diverse nation like India.
Speaking at a felicitation event organized by the All India Senior Advocates Association (AISAA) at the Constitution Club on Monday evening, he highlighted the challenges both state and non-state actors face in safeguarding human rights.
Justice Ramasubramanian, who assumed office on December 30, 2024, expressed a profound sense of responsibility. “A huge expectation rests on these slender shoulders,” he remarked, underscoring the complexity of managing India’s diversity. “India is home to followers of eight major religions, speakers of 22 official languages and over 700 dialects, as well as 1,640 castes and communities,” he noted. He further added that balancing the rights of state and non-state actors in such a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multi-linguistic society is no easy task.
Delivering his first public speech after taking charge, Justice Ramasubramanian traced the evolution of human rights from civil and political rights to socio-economic and cultural rights, and now to “fourth-generation rights,” which address emerging issues like cryogenics and posthumous body preservation. He stressed that the responsibility of human rights commissions, particularly in a country as complex as India, is immense.
Justice Ramasubramanian also elaborated on the dual challenges posed by state and non-state actors in the human rights domain. “When non-state actors create hurdles, we rely on state actors to resolve them. But when state actors intervene, protecting the rights of those non-state actors becomes another challenge,” he explained, highlighting the intricate dynamics of human rights protection.
Known for his humor and candid opinions, Justice Ramasubramanian was at his most engaging as he reflected on the financial sacrifices of accepting the NHRC Chairperson role. He revealed that after his retirement from the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023, he had a flourishing arbitration practice, including international arbitrations, which brought him considerable financial comfort.
“For the past 18 months after my retirement, the goddess of wealth not only smiled but laughed, hugged me, and made my life very comfortable. But that made the goddess of learning, Saraswati, very jealous, and she snatched me away from the goddess of wealth to appoint me as Chairperson of NHRC,” he quipped, leaving the audience, comprising lawyers and former judges, in splits.
Justice Ramasubramanian disclosed that then-Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud had offered to recommend him as head of a tribunal before his retirement, but he had politely declined, stating, “For the past 30 years, I was wedded to learning, so I could not make any money. Now, post-retirement, I wanted to do some arbitrations and make money.”
He added that accepting the NHRC role marked a transition from “Happy Hours” to “Dry Days” financially, as he left behind lucrative arbitration opportunities to take on the responsibility of safeguarding human rights. “It’s a huge financial sacrifice for ex-judges of the higher judiciary to quit arbitration work and accept appointments as heads of tribunals and commissions,” he noted.
The felicitation ceremony saw tributes from legal luminaries. Supreme Court Justice N. Kotiswar Singh commended Justice Ramasubramanian’s deep understanding of India’s constitutional heritage and his alignment with modern ideals of justice. “He is not only a scholar of law but also deeply rooted in India’s traditions,” said Justice Singh.
Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala, Secretary General of AISAA and President of the International Council of Jurists (ICJ), London, lauded Justice Ramasubramanian as a “true human being and protector of human rights.” Dr. Aggarwala shared his association with Justice Ramasubramanian, recalling his farewell function during his tenure as Supreme Court Bar Association President.
“He has always decided cases not just by his head, but by his heart,” Dr Aggarwala said, emphasizing Justice Ramasubramanian’s commitment to constitutional values and justice for vulnerable sections of society. He praised his judicial contributions over a 17-year career, describing him as a role model for judges, lawyers, and teachers of law.
Justice Ramasubramanian was honoured with a citation recognizing his lifelong contributions:
“In recognition of his lifelong contribution spanning over 23 years as an advocate (1983-2006) and over 17 years as a judge (2006-2023). In these years, he touched countless lives and made a lasting impact as a distinguished jurist. A role model for judges, lawyers, and teachers of law.”
The event was attended by Senior Advocate P. Wilson, President of AISAA, Senior Advocates S. Prabakaran, Ashok Kumar Parija, Anmol Rattan Sidhu, and former Delhi High Court Judges Justice Ravindra Singh, Justice Talwant Singh, and Justice Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal among others.
The felicitation ceremony marked an inspiring start to Justice Ramasubramanian’s tenure as NHRC Chairperson, reinforcing his commitment to justice, constitutional values, and human rights protection.
