Former Odisha CJ Dr. S. Muralidhar Named Chair of UN Panel Probing Human Rights Violations in Palestine-Israel Conflict
Justice Dr S. Muralidhar has previously served on the National Human Rights Commission and as amicus curiae in multiple public-interest matters.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has appointed former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court and Senior Advocate Dr S. Muralidhar as the Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
The appointment of the former Jurist was announced by President of the Human Rights Council, Jürg Lauber. Justice Muralidhar shall now serve at the helm of one of the UN’s most closely watched investigative initiatives given the gravity of the Israel-Palestine conflict which has reached its nadir in the last few years.
The three-member Commission is tasked with examining alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human-rights law in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Justice Muralidhar succeeds Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro of Brazil as Chair and will lead the body alongside Florence Mumba of Zambia and Chris Sidoti of Australia.
The Commission was created in 2021 through a Human Rights Council Resolution to establish an ongoing, independent inquiry into all alleged violations and abuses committed in the region since 13 April 2021; the commission’s mandate further extends to the investigation of the root cause of recurring tensions and prolonged socio-political instability, including patterns of discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial or religious identity.
In 2024, the Human Rights Council expanded the Commission’s scope, directing it to submit additional reports on Israeli settlers and arms transfers, including those used during Israeli military operations in Gaza following 7 October 2023. In a report from September 2025, the Commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Justice Dr. Muralidhar’s appointment comes after a long and distinguished career spent before and behind the Bench, being extensively noted for combining intellectual rigor with constitutional sensitivity.
As Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court, he authored several important tax and constitutional rulings, including in ReckittBenckiser (India) Ltd v. State of Odisha and Others (2022 TAXSCAN (HC) 613), where the Court held that “Robinson Barley” and “Purity Barley” were taxable under the residual entry at 12% under the Orissa Sales Tax Act.
He also delivered notable judgments pertaining to entry tax liability, Goods and Services Tax and Service tax.
Prior to his judicial service, Justice Muralidhar practiced for nearly two decades before the Supreme Court of India, represented the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and served as amicus curiae in multiple public-interest matters. After retiring from judgeship in 2023, he returned to practice and was designated a Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court.
Following the announcement, noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan reacted on X (formerly Twitter), describing the appointment as “Fitting recognition of a great jurist who was prevented from coming to the SC by a communal & vengeful govt & a pliant collegium.”
https://x.com/pbhushan1/status/1994226229352812839
Justice Dr Muralidhar’s appointment is being viewed as a significant recognition of an Indian jurist’s contribution to the global human-rights discourse and is poised to play a prominent role in determining accountability and future action in the long-drawn out conflict between Palestine and Israel.
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