National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India holds Statutory Full Commission meeting

Posted 22 Apr 2024

2 min read

The objective of the meeting was to discuss the issue of ensuring the protection of the rights of the vulnerable and marginalized sections.

About NHRC
- Established in 1993 as a Statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.
  - Its establishment is aligned with the Paris Principle (sets out the international minimum standards for national human rights institutions).
- Composition: A Chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members.
  - Deemed Members include Chairpersons of other key National commissions such as National Commission for Scheduled Caste etc.
  - Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019 provided that Judge of the Supreme Court can be appointed as chairperson in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of India.
- Tenure: Three years or till the age of seventy years for both the Chairperson and Members.

Power and Functions of NHRC
- It has all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
- Inquire into any violation of human rights or negligence in the prevention of such violation by a public servant, either suo motu or on a petition.
- Intervene in proceeding w.r.t. allegation on violation of HRs pending before a court.

Key Initiatives
- Guidelines to check misuse of the power of arrest by the police.
- Elimination of manual scavenging.
Key Challenges
- Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) had deferred its re-accreditation.
  - It has been done mainly due to Political interference in appointments, involving the police in probes into human rights violations, etc.
  - Without the accreditation, NHRC will be unable to represent India at the UN Human Rights Council.

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