National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India
Kartavya Desk Staff
#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: NHRC
Context: During the recent Statutory Full Commission meeting organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India, chaired by Justice Shri Arun Mishra, the emphasis was placed on the need for collaborative strategies among all seven National Commissions to ensure the protection of human rights, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized sections of society.
Aspect | Details
Establishment | 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 aligns with the Paris Principle, which sets out the international minimum standards for national human rights institutions.
Composition | Consists of a Chairperson, five full-time Members, and seven deemed Members. Deemed Members include Chairpersons of other key National Commissions such as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, etc.
The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019, provided that a Judge of the Supreme Court can be appointed as Chairperson in addition to the person who has been the Chief Justice of India.
Tenure | The tenure for both the Chairperson and Members is three years or until the age of seventy years.
Powers and Functions | Has all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Can 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. Can intervene in proceedings regarding allegations of human rights violations pending before a court.
Key Initiatives | Guidelines to check the misuse of the power of arrest by the police. Elimination of manual scavenging.
Challenges | The Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred its re-accreditation mainly due to political interference in appointments, involving the police in probes into human rights violations, etc. Without accreditation, NHRC will be unable to represent India at the UN Human Rights Council