NHRC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently issued an advisory to the Centre, State governments, and Union Territory administrations, emphasizing the need to ensure the welfare of transgender persons.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

• About: It is an independent statutory body in 1993 under the provisions of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, later amended in 2006. 
• Function: It is the watchdog of human rights in the country, that is, the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international covenants2 and enforceable by courts in India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Composition: One Chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members.

o A person who has been the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court can become a chairman.

• Appointment:  Appointed by the President on the recommendations of a 6 member committee consisting of the Prime Minister.
• Tenure: 3 years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: On the charges of proved misbehavior or incapacity, if proved by an inquiry conducted by a Supreme Court Judge.