What is the role of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)?

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) celebrated its 33rd Foundation Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on October 12.

• Over the years, the NHRC has been recommending necessary policy reforms, people-centric governance and implementation and regular monitoring on the ground to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in law enforcement, investigations and welfare schemes. 

• It promotes police accountability, prison reforms and protection of the rights of the accused and victims through research, policy advocacy and public awareness. 

• It continues to collaborate with central and state governments, academic institutions, NGOs and human rights defenders to protect and promote human rights of all segments of society, particularly the most vulnerable.

• In 33 years, the Commission has handled 24,33,716 cases including 3,100 cases of suo motu cognizance. 

• It has recommended monetary relief of more than Rs 274 crore in 9,085 cases to victims of human rights violations. 

What is the role of NHRC? 

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established on October 12, 1993. 

• The statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.

• It is in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations by its Regulations 48/134 of December, 20, 1993.

• The NHRC takes cognisance of human rights violations, conducts enquiries and recommends compensation to victims from public authorities besides other remedial and legal measures against the erring public servants.

• The Commission consists of a chairperson, five full-time members and seven deemed members. The statute lays down qualifications for the appointment of the chairperson and members of the commission.

• The NHRC is an embodiment of India’s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights.

• Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA defines human rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

• The Commission is responsible for spreading human rights awareness amongst the masses and encouraging the efforts of all stakeholders in the field of human rights literacy.

Functions of NHRC:

The Commission has a wide mandate including civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, and group rights.

Section 12 lays down that the Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely:

• Inquiring, suo motu, or on petitions, presented to it by victims, or any persons on their behalf, or on a direction or order of any court, into complaints of violation of human rights or abetment thereof, or negligence in the prevention of such violation, by a public servant.

• Intervening in any proceeding involving any allegation of violation of human rights pending before a court, with the approval of such courts.

• Visiting, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, any jail or other institution under the control of the state government, where persons are detained or lodged for purposes of treatment, reformation or protection, for the study of the living conditions of the inmates thereof and making recommendations.

• Reviewing the safeguards provided by, or under, the Constitution, or any law for the time being in force, for the protection of human rights, and recommending measures for their effective implementation. 

• Reviewing the factors, including acts of terrorism, that inhibits the enjoyment of human rights, and recommending appropriate remedial measures.

• Studying treaties and other international instruments on human rights, and making recommendations for their effective implementation.

• Undertaking and promoting research in the field of human rights.

• Spreading human rights literacy amongst various sections of society, and promoting awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of these rights, through publications, the media, seminars and other available means.

• Encouraging the efforts of non-governmental organisations, and institutions working in the field of human rights.

• Undertaking such other functions as may be considered necessary for the promotion of human rights.

• The Commission has its own investigating staff headed by a Director General of Police for investigation into complaints of human rights violations.