NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an advisory to Centre, State governments and UT Administrations to ensure widows’ welfare and protection of their human rights.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

• Statutory Status: The NHRC-India has been set up under the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament in 1993.
• Accreditation: It has been accredited as an ‘A’ Status NHRI since the beginning of the accreditation process for NHRIs in 1999, which it retained in 2006, 2011, and in 2017 also after a deferment. 
• Mission: The Commission is responsible for spreading of human rights awareness amongst the masses and encouraging the efforts of all stake holders in the field of human rights literacy not only at the national level but at international level too.
• Members: The NHRC consists of the chairperson and five members (excluding the ex-officio members)
• Appointment: President on recommendation from six-member committee – PM, Speaker LS, Deputy Chairman RS, LOP – RS & LS, Home Min.
• Qualification:

oChairman – Should be retired CJI or judge of the SC

oMembers – A serving or retired judge of the SC, a serving or retired CJ of HC and three persons (at least 1 woman) having knowledge or experience w.r.t human rights. 

• Tenure: 3yrs or 70 age and eligible for re-appointment.
• Removal: They can only be removed upon proven charges of misconduct or incapacity, substantiated through an inquiry overseen by a Supreme Court Judge.