Lawyers Body withdraw plea on Justice Sathasivam's appointment as NHRC chief

April,28,2015: A lawyers' association, opposing the Centre's plan to appoint former Chief Justice of India and Kerala governor P Sathasivam as chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), withdrew its petition from the Supreme Court on Monday following an assurance from the government. 

Appearing before a bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu, senior advocate Adish C Aggarwala, appearing for All India Bar Association (AIBA), said it wanted to withdraw the petition as the government that the representation against Sathasivam would be considered. 

"I have sent representation to the government and it is considering the plea," Aggarwala who is also AIBA's chairman told the court. The bench threreafter allowed him to withdraw the petition. 

The association alleged that the NDA government's failure to consider the names of eligible former CJIs -- Justices R M Lodha, Altamas Kabir and S H Kapadia -- and obtaining consent of Justice Sathasivam for the assignment vitiated the selection process. 

It said proper procedure for the appointment of NHRC chairperson was not being followed. TOI