BJP leader Khanna withdraws consent for NHRC post, SC told

BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna has withdrawn consent for his appointment as a member of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Supreme Court was told.
Additional Solicitor General Atamaram Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre, informed the apex court that BJP vice president Khanna has expressed his unwillingness to work as member of NHRC due to "domestic exigencies".
"After having gone through the aforesaid letter given by the Additional Solicitor General, nothing remains in the writ petition and same is dismissed as having become infructuous. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, the question of law is kept open," a bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman said yesterday.

The top court had earlier issued notice to the Centre on a PIL filed by a student Anupriya Nagori opposing his appointment on the ground as to why the name of an active politician was recommended for the job.
The petition had alleged that information about Khanna's political background was not circulated to members of the high- power selection committee which cleared his name.
A panel comprising the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister and leaders of opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had recommended Khanna's appointment as a non-judicial member of NHRC.

The post of member, NHRC had been vacant since March 1, 2014.